Content addressable memory with configurable class-based storage partition

ABSTRACT

A content addressable memory (CAM) device having a plurality of CAM blocks and a block selection circuit. Each of the CAM blocks includes an array of CAM cells to store data words having a width determined according to a configuration value. The block selection circuit includes an input to receive a class code and circuitry to output a plurality of select signals to the plurality of CAM blocks. Each of the select signals selectively disables a respective one of the plurality of CAM blocks from participating in a compare operation according to whether the class code matches a class assignment of the CAM block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/716,140 filed Nov. 18, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No 10/364,147 filed Feb. 11, 2003, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/940,832 filed Aug.27, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of each of the following U.S.patent applications: application Ser. No. 09/590,642, filed Jun. 8,2000; application Ser. No. 09/590,428 filed Jun. 8, 2000; applicationSer. No. 09/590,775 filed Jun. 8, 2000; application Ser. No. 09/594,206,filed Jun. 14, 2000; application Ser. No. 09/594,209, filed Jun. 14,2000; application Ser. No. 09/594,201, filed Jun. 14, 2000; applicationSer. No. 09/594,194, filed Jun. 14, 2000; and application Ser. No.09/594,202, filed Jun. 14, 2000. Each of the above-identifiedapplications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to semiconductor memories and moreparticularly to content addressable memories.

BACKGROUND

Content addressable memories (CAMs) are frequently used for addresslook-up functions in Internet data routing. For example, routers used bylocal Internet Service Providers (ISPs) typically include one or moreCAMs for storing a plurality of Internet addresses and associated datasuch as, for instance, corresponding address routing information. Whendata is routed to a destination address, the destination address iscompared with all CAM words, e.g., Internet addresses, stored in the CAMarray. If there is a match, routing information corresponding to thematching CAM word is output and thereafter used to route the data.

A CAM device includes a CAM array having a plurality of memory cellsarranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell stores asingle bit of digital information, i.e., either logic zero or logic one.The bits stored within a row of memory cells constitute a CAM word.During compare operations, a comparand word is received at appropriateinput terminals of a CAM device and driven into the CAM array usingcomparand lines to be compared with all the CAM words in the device. Foreach CAM word that matches the comparand word, a corresponding matchline signal is asserted to indicate a match condition. If the comparandword matches more than one of the CAM words, the match linecorresponding to each of the matching CAM words is asserted, and a“multiple match” flag is also asserted to indicate the multiple matchcondition. The match line signals from each CAM block are combined in apriority encoder to determine the address of the highest-prioritymatching CAM word, i.e., the CAM index. Associative informationcorresponding to the CAM index stored in, for instance, an associatedRAM, may also be provided.

A single CAM device can be used to store multiple tables each storingand maintaining different classes of data. All entries, however,typically participate in a compare operation. This can cause anundesirable amount of power to be drawn during the compare operation. Itwould be desirable to limit a search to only those entries associatedwith a particular class of data to reduce power consumption during theoperation.

In a typical CAM device, the width of the data word is fixed accordingto the number of memory cells per row of the CAM array. U.S. Pat. No.5,440,715 describes a technique for expanding the width of the datawords beyond that of a single row of CAM cells. This inter-rowconfigurability provides flexibility in the use of the single CAM arrayto store data words larger than that available in a single addressablerow of CAM cells.

It would be desirable to have a CAM system that includes intra-rowconfigurability to provide additional flexibility in the use of a singleCAM array to be used in multiple array configurations. Intra-rowconfigurability is the ability to access and operate upon one or moresegments of rows of CAM cells.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus are disclosed that may be used to partition a CAMdevice having a plurality of CAM blocks into a number of individuallysearchable partitions, where each partition may include one or more CAMblocks of the CAM device. In accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention, each CAM block is connected to a block select circuitthat stores a class code indicating what class or type of data is storedin the block. The same class code may be stored in any number of theblock select circuits to define a partition as including thecorresponding number of CAM blocks. During compare operations between acomparand word and data stored in the CAM device, a search code isprovided to the block select circuits. Each block select circuitcompares the search code with its class code and, in response thereto,selectively enables or disables the corresponding CAM block for thecompare operation. In some embodiments, the block select circuit enablesthe corresponding CAM block if the search class matches the class codeand, conversely, disables the corresponding CAM block if the search codedoes not match the class code.

In one embodiment, the block select circuit disables a corresponding CAMblock by driving the comparand lines of the CAM block to a predeterminedstate to preclude the comparand word from being driven onto thecomparand lines during the compare operation. By driving the comparandword only on the comparand lines of the selected (i.e., enabled) CAMblocks during the compare operation, present embodiments not only allowfor selective searching across CAM blocks according to class codes, butalso reduce power consumption in un-selected (i.e., disabled) CAM blocksduring such selective compare operations.

A CAM system having intra-row configurability is also disclosed. For oneembodiment, the CAM system includes a CAM array having a number of rowsof CAM cells each segmented into row segments. Each row segment includesa number of CAM cells coupled to a corresponding match line segment.Individual row segments or groups of row segments are uniquelyaddressable by address logic in response to configuration informationthat indicates a width and depth configuration of the CAM array. Theconfiguration information may be stored in a configuration register.Data may be communicated with an addressed row segment or group of rowsegments using data access circuitry. Priority encoding circuitry may beincluded to generate the address of a row segment or group of rowsegments that stores data matching comparand data in response to theconfiguration information. Match flag logic may also be included todetermine when comparand data matches data stored in one of the rowsegments or one of the groups of row segments in response to theconfiguration information. Additionally, multiple match flag logic maybe included to determine when comparand data matches data stored in eachof a plurality of row segments and to determine when comparand datamatches data stored in each of a plurality of groups of row segments inresponse to the configuration information.

In one embodiment, a CAM system includes multiple CAM blocks each havingan associated block select circuit. Each of the CAM blocks isconfigurable to store data words having a width determined according toa configuration value and is responsive to a block select signal fromthe associated block select circuit to either participate or notparticipate in a compare operation. Each select block select circuitcompares an input class code with a stored value and either asserts ordeasserts the block select signal for the associated CAM block accordingto the comparison result.

These and other embodiments, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from thedetailed description that follows below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated byway of example and are by no means intended to limit the scope of thepresent invention to the particular embodiments shown, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CAM device including a plurality of CAMblocks in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CAM block in one embodiment of the arrayof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a block select circuit in one embodiment ofthe CAM block of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the block select circuitof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a logic diagram of another embodiment of the block selectcircuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of a comparand driver of theCAM block of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a CAM device including a plurality of CAMblocks in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventionconfigured to translate addresses of one or more defective CAM blocks;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the disabling of defective CAMblocks in one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the CAM device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a CAM block in one embodiment of thedevice of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of address translation logic in oneembodiment of the CAM block of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a logic diagram of a main priority encoder in one embodimentof the device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a configurable CAMsystem according to the present invention including a CAM array,comparand register, configuration register, address logic, read/writecircuitry, an instruction decoder, priority encoder logic, match flaglogic, and multiple match flag logic;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the address logic ofFIG. 13 including a row decoder, row address select logic, segmentaddress select logic, and a segment decoder;

FIG. 15 is one example of the address logic of FIG. 14 for particularconfigurations of the CAM system;

FIG. 16 is one embodiment of a truth table for the select logic of FIG.15;

FIG. 17 is one embodiment of a truth table for the segment decoder ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 18A is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the segment addressselect logic of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18B is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the row address selectlogic of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is block diagram of another embodiment of the address logic ofFIG. 13 including a row decoder, segment decoders, and a multiplexer;

FIG. 20 is one example of the address logic of FIG. 19 for particularconfigurations of the CAM system;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of one embodiment of circuitry to loadcomparand data into the comparand register;

FIG. 22 is one example of the logic of FIG. 21 for particularconfigurations of the CAM system;

FIG. 23 is one embodiment of a truth table for the select logic of FIG.22;

FIG. 24 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the select logic for thetruth table of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a logic diagram of another embodiment of the select logic forthe truth table of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the match flag logic ofFIG. 13 including row match circuits and an array match circuit;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the row match circuitsof FIG. 26 including match one logic, group match circuits, and matchconfiguration logic;

FIG. 28 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the match one logic ofFIG. 27;

FIGS. 29A-29C are logic diagrams of embodiments of the group matchcircuits of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the match configurationlogic of FIG. 27;

FIG. 31 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the match flag logic ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the match flag logicof FIG. 13 including row match circuits and an array match circuit;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the array match circuitof FIG. 32 including OR logic and a select circuit;

FIG. 34 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the select logic of FIG.33;

FIG. 35 is a logic diagram of another embodiment of the select logic ofFIG. 33;

FIG. 36 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the array matchcircuit of FIG. 32 including qualifying logic circuits and OR logic;

FIG. 37 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the qualifying logiccircuits and the OR logic of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the multiple match flaglogic of FIG. 13 including row match circuits, row multiple matchcircuits, and an array multiple match circuit;

FIG. 39 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a row multiple matchcircuit of FIG. 38 including multiple match one logic, group multiplematch logic circuits, and a multiple match configuration logic circuit;

FIG. 40 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the multiple match onelogic of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the multiple match onelogic of FIG. 40 for four row segments;

FIGS. 42A-42C are logic diagrams of embodiments of the group multiplematch logic circuits of FIG. 39;

FIG. 43 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of one of the groupmultiple match circuits for four row segments;

FIG. 44 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the multiple matchconfiguration logic of FIG. 39;

FIG. 45 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the array multiple matchcircuit of FIG. 38;

FIG. 46 is a block diagram of the configurable CAM system of FIG. 13including one embodiment of the priority encoder logic having row matchcircuits, row priority encoder circuits, a main priority encoder, andselect logic;

FIG. 47 is a block diagram of one of the row priority encoder circuitsfor particular configurations of the CAM system;

FIG. 48 is one embodiment of a truth table for one operatingconfiguration for the row priority encoder circuit of FIG. 47;

FIG. 49 is another embodiment of a truth table for another operatingconfiguration for the row priority encoder circuit of FIG. 47;

FIG. 50 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the row priority encodercircuit of FIG. 47 for generating one segment address bit;

FIG. 51 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the row priority encodercircuit of FIG. 47 for generating another segment address bit;

FIG. 52 is a block diagram of the configurable CAM system of FIG. 13including one embodiment of the select circuitry having a decoder, amultiplexer, and translation logic;

FIG. 53 is a logic diagram of embodiment of the translation logic ofFIG. 52;

FIG. 54 is a block diagram of the configurable CAM system of FIG. 13including another embodiment of the priority encoder having priorityencoder interface circuits, a priority encoder, and translation logic;

FIG. 55 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of a priority encoderinterface circuit of FIG. 54 for particular configurations of the CAMsystem;

FIG. 56 is a table summarizing the function of the priority encoderinterface circuits of FIG. 54;

FIG. 57 is a logic diagram of one embodiment of the translation logic ofFIG. 54;

FIG. 58 is a logic diagram of the translation logic of FIG. 57 for aparticular configuration of the CAM system;

FIG. 59 illustrates an embodiment of a CAM device that includes a CAMarray formed by independently selectable CAM blocks and that hasintra-row configurability;

FIG. 60 illustrates a block select circuit according to one embodiment;

FIG. 61 illustrates a gating circuit according to one embodiment;

FIG. 62 illustrates a block flag circuit according to one embodiment;

FIG. 63 illustrates a row flag circuit from FIG. 62 in greater detail;

FIGS. 64 illustrates an embodiment of a block flag logic in which ablock select signal is used to gate assertion of the block flag signal;

FIGS. 65 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a block flag logic inwhich a block select signal is used to gate assertion of the block flagsignal;

FIG. 66 illustrates a block priority encoder according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 67 illustrates an embodiment of the global priority encoder of FIG.59;

FIG. 68 shows an alternative implementation of the row multiple matchconfiguration logic of FIG. 39;

FIG. 69 illustrates an embodiment of a block multiple match circuit;

FIG. 70 illustrates an embodiment of a global flag circuit of FIG. 59;

FIG. 71 illustrates the address circuit of FIG. 59 according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 72 illustrates a load control circuit that may be provided withinthe address circuit of FIG. 71;

FIG. 73 illustrates an exemplary operation of the instruction decoder ofFIG. 59 in response to an instruction to write to the next free addressof a class-based partition of the CAM array;

FIG. 74 illustrates an exemplary operation of the instruction decoder ofFIG. 59 in response to an instruction to compare a comparand with thecontents of a class-based partition of the CAM array;

FIG. 75 illustrates an exemplary operation of the instruction decoder ofFIG. 59 in response to an instruction to read a CAM word from thehighest priority match address of a class-based partition of the CAMarray;

FIG. 76 illustrates an alternative block select circuit which may beused in the CAM device of FIG. 59; and

FIG. 77 depicts a CAM block with two classes of data stored therein.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout thedrawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specificnomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of thepresent invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in theart that these specific details may not be required to practice thepresent invention. In other instances, well-known circuits and devicesare shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the present inventionunnecessarily. Additionally, the interconnection between circuitelements or blocks may be shown as buses or as single signal lines. Eachof the buses may alternatively be a single signal line, and each of thesingle signal lines may alternatively be buses. In addition, the logiclevels assigned to various signals in the description below arearbitrary, and therefore may be modified (e.g., reversed polarity) asdesired.

Embodiments of the present invention are discussed below in the contextof a CAM device 100 for simplicity only. It is to be understood thatembodiments of the present invention are equally applicable to CAMstructures having other configurations of any suitable type of CAMcells. Further, architectural configurations of the present inventionmay be implemented in other types of memory blocks such as, forinstance, RAM, Flash, and EEPROM. Accordingly, the present invention isnot to be construed as limited to specific examples described herein butrather includes within its scope all embodiments defined by the appendedclaims.

CAM Device with Class-Based Partition

FIG. 1 shows a CAM device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention as having a number n of CAM blocks 102(1)-102(n), acorresponding number n of block select circuits 106(1)-106(n), and apriority encoder 108. Each CAM block 102 includes a CAM array 104 havinga plurality of rows of CAM cells for storing a plurality of CAM wordstherein, and is connected to a corresponding block select circuit 106.Each row may also include one or more valid bits indicative of whether avalid CAM word is stored in the row. The valid bits may be used in awell-known manner to generate a full flag for the CAM block 102. CAMblocks 102 may be any suitable type of CAM block, including for example,synchronous, asynchronous, binary, and ternary CAMs. Further, each CAMblock 102 may be any suitable size, and in some embodiments may be ofdifferent sizes. In one embodiment, each CAM block 102 includes 1 k(1024) rows of CAM cells.

During a compare operation, each CAM block 102 receives comparand datafrom a comparand bus CBUS. Other signals provided to the CAM device 100during the compare operation may be a clock signal CLK, one or moreinstructions from an instruction decoder (not shown for simplicity), andother control signals. In some embodiments, instructions and comparanddata may be provided to the CAM blocks 102(1)-102(n) via the same bus.Other well-known signals which may be provided to the CAM blocks 102,such as word enable signals, reset signals, and enable signals, are notshown for simplicity.

Each CAM block 102 provides a plurality of match line signals to thepriority encoder 108 via corresponding match lines ML. The match linescarry match signals indicative of match conditions in the CAM arrays104. For simplicity, the plurality of match lines ML from each CAM block102 are represented collectively in FIG. 1. The priority encoder 108generates an index corresponding to one of the matching CAM words in thedevice 100. In one embodiment, the priority encoder 108 outputs theindex of the highest priority match. The highest priority match may bethe lowest numbered address, the highest numbered address, or any otherselected address.

For purposes of discussion herein, the first CAM block 102(1) in thedevice 100 is designated as the highest priority block, the second CAMblock 102(2) is designated as the next highest priority block, and soon, and the last CAM block 102(n) is designated as the lowest priorityblock, although in actual embodiments priority may be reversed orotherwise modified. Thus, the highest priority CAM block 102(1) mayinclude the lowest CAM addresses (i.e., CAM addresses 0 to k-1), thenext highest priority block 102(2) may include the next lowest CAMaddresses (i.e., CAM addresses k to 2 k-1), and so on, and the lowestpriority CAM block 102(n) may include the highest CAM addresses (i.e.,CAM addresses (n-1)k to nk-1).

The block select circuits 106(1)-106(n) control whether correspondingCAM blocks 102(1)-102(n), respectively, participate in compareoperations. Each block select circuit 106 stores a class code for thecorresponding CAM block 102 which may be used to selectively disable theCAM block from participating in, and therefore from affecting theresults of, one or more compare operations. During a compare operation,a comparand word is provided to the CAM blocks 102 via CBUS, and asearch code is provided to the block select circuits 106(1)-106(n) viabus SC. In alternate embodiments, the search code may be provided aspart of the comparand word, in which case the CBUS is connected to theblock select circuits 106, or may be provided as part of a compareinstruction. Each block select circuit 106 compares the received searchcode with its stored class code, and in response thereto, selectivelydisables the corresponding CAM block 102 from participating in thecompare operation via a select signal SEL. In one embodiment, the blockselect circuit 106 enables its corresponding CAM block 102 toparticipate in the compare operation if the class code matches thesearch code and, conversely, disables the corresponding CAM block 102 ifthe class code does not match the search code. In alternate embodiments,more than one CAM block 102 may share the same block select circuit 106.

The class codes assigned to the CAM blocks 102 may be used to partitionthe device 100 into individually selectable partitions of one or moreCAM blocks 102. For example, in one embodiment, data stored in the firstCAM block 102(1) may be assigned to a first class by storing a firstclass code in block select circuit 106(1), data stored in the second CAMblock 102(2) may be assigned to a second class by storing a second classcode in block select circuit 106(2), and data stored in the remainingCAM blocks 102(3)-102(n) may be assigned to a third class by storing athird class code in block select circuits 106(3)-106(n). Then, forexample, data stored in the first CAM block 102(1) may be selected forsearching by setting the search code to match the first class codestored in the block select circuit 106(1).

When the search code matches the first class code, the block selectcircuit 106(1) enables the first CAM block 102(1) to compare thecomparand word with its stored data corresponding to the first classcode. If the search code does not match the second and third classcodes, the remaining block select circuits 106(2)-106(n) disable thecorresponding, unselected CAM blocks 102(2)-102(n). When disabled, theunselected CAM blocks 102(2)-102(n) do not drive the comparand word intotheir respective CAM arrays 104 for the compare operation, therebyprecluding comparison with unselected data corresponding to the secondand third class codes. In this manner, the CAM blocks 102(1)-102(n) maybe selectively searched according to class assignments, thereby allowingfor a dynamically partition-able CAM device 100.

Since the comparand word is not compared with data stored in thedisabled CAM blocks 102(2)-102(n), the disabled CAM blocks 102(2)-102(n)consume much less power during the compare operation than does theselected, enabled CAM block 102(1). In this manner, the class codes ofpresent embodiments not only restrict compare operations to data in theselected CAM block(s), but also minimize power consumption of theunselected CAM block(s) during compare operations. The advantage ofreduced power consumption in unselected CAM blocks during compareoperations achieved by present embodiments may be particularly useful inapplications where power consumption is a concern.

The ability to selectively enable or disable one or more CAM blocks fromparticipating in compare operations may be especially useful forcombining routing look-up functions for different classes of networks ina single device 100. For example, in one embodiment, routing informationfor a first virtual private network (VPN) may be stored in a first CAMblock 102(1), routing information for a second VPN may be stored in asecond CAM block 102(2), routing information for a web search may bestored in a third block 102(3), and routing information for a local areanetwork (LAN) may be stored in a fourth CAM block 102(4). Four uniqueclass codes may be stored in corresponding block select circuits 106. Ofcourse, more than one CAM block may be assigned to a particular networkby storing the appropriate class code in more than block select circuit106. During compare operations, comparand data corresponding to routingfunctions of one of these four networks may be exclusively compared withdata stored in the corresponding CAM block(s) by simply setting thesearch code to match the appropriate class code. In some embodiments, anassociative RAM may be partitioned into four partitions correspondingwith the four class-defined partitions in the CAM device 100.

FIG. 2 shows a CAM array 200 that is one embodiment of a CAM array 104of FIG. 1. The array 200 includes a plurality of CAM cells 202 organizedin any number of rows and columns. Each row of CAM cells 202 is coupledto a match line ML and a word line WL. Each word line WL is driven by anaddress decoder 204 to select one or more of CAM cells 202 for writingor reading. For alternative embodiments, multiple CAM blocks may share adecoder. Each match line ML provides the match results of a compareoperation to the priority encoder 108 (see also FIG. 1). A match line MLindicates a match condition for the row only if all CAM cells 202 inthat row match the comparand data. Each CAM cell 202 may be a binary,ternary, SRAM-based or DRAM-based CAM cell. In some embodiments, thematch line ML is pre-charged for the compare operation. If any CAM cell202 in the row does not match the comparand data, the CAM cell(s) 202discharges the match line ML toward ground potential (e.g., logic low).Conversely, if all CAM cells 202 match the comparand data, the matchline ML remains in a charged state (e.g., logic high). When the CAMblock 102 is disabled in response to the select signal SEL, thecomparand word is not driven into the array 200, and the match lines MLmay remain in their charged state during the compare operation,regardless of whether there is a mismatch. The match lines need not bepre-charged for a subsequent compare operation. The ability to maintainthe match lines of unselected CAM blocks in their charged state duringthe compare operation may further reduce power consumption of presentembodiments over prior art architectures.

Each column of CAM cells 202 is coupled to a bit line BL, acomplementary bit line {overscore (BL)}, a comparand line CL, and acomplementary comparand line {overscore (CL)}. The bit lines BL and{overscore (BL)} are coupled to sense amplifiers 206 that may enabledata to be written to or read from a row of CAM cells 202. The comparandlines CL and {overscore (CL)} are coupled to comparand drivers 208,which in turn are coupled to a comparand register 210 via complementarydata lines D and {overscore (D)}. The comparand drivers 208 selectivelydrive a comparand word received from the comparand register 210 viacomplementary data lines D and {overscore (D)} onto complementarycomparand lines CL and {overscore (CL)} for comparison with data in CAMcells 202 in response the select signal SEL provided by the block selectcircuit 106. The comparand register 210 may be shared by all CAM blocks102(1) 102(n). As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, the blockselect circuit 106 generates the select signal SEL in response to thesearch code and its stored class code.

In alternate embodiments, other CAM array architectures may be used. Forexample, in some embodiments, CAM array 200 may not includecomplementary comparand lines CL and {overscore (CL)}, in which case thecomplementary bit lines BL and {overscore (BL)} may be coupled to thecomparand drivers 208 and be used to perform a compare operation as isgenerally known in the art. For example, in the first part of a comparecycle, compare data may be selectively driven onto BL and {overscore(BL)}, and during the second part of the compare cycle, BL and{overscore (BL)} may be driven with data to be output from CAM array200. For other embodiments, only one of comparand lines CL and{overscore (CL)} or bit lines BL and {overscore (BL)} may be needed.

FIG. 3 shows a block select circuit 300 that is one embodiment of theblock select circuit 106. The block select circuit 300 includes a memory302 and a compare circuit 304. The memory 302 stores the class code forthe corresponding CAM block 102 of device 100, and may be any suitableprogrammable memory element such as, for instance, a register,flip-flop, EEPROM, EPROM, SRAM, and so on. The compare circuit 304compares the class code received from the memory 302 with a search codereceived from bus SC and, in response thereto, generates the selectsignal SEL which selectively enables or disables the corresponding CAMblock 102. The compare circuit 304 may be any suitable circuit whichcompares the search code and the class code, including for example anexclusive-OR type logic gate or a CAM cell.

FIG. 4 shows a block select circuit 400 that is one embodiment of theblock select circuit 300. The block select circuit 400 is shown toinclude a 3-bit memory 302 and a 3-bit compare circuit 304, although inother embodiments more or less bits may be used. The memory 302 includesthree data flip-flops 402(0)-402(2), and the compare circuit 304includes three exclusive-NOR (XNOR) gates 404(0)-404(2) and an AND gate406. Each XNOR gate 404(0)-404(2) includes a first input terminal toreceive a corresponding search code bit SC, a second input terminal toreceive a corresponding class code bit CC from the correspondingflip-flop 402, and an output terminal connected to the AND gate 406. A3-bit class code CC[0:2] may be clocked into respective flip-flops402(0)-402(2) using the clock signal CLK, where flip-flop 402(0) storesthe first class code bit CC[0], flip-flop 402(1) stores the second classbit code CC[1], and flip-flop 402(2) stores the third class code bitCC[2].

During compare operations, the XNOR gates 404(0)-404(2) compare searchcode bits SC[0:2] with respective class code bits CC[0:2] and, if thereis match, drive their output terminals to logic high. Conversely, ifthere is a mismatch, the XNOR gate 404 drives its output terminal tologic low. If all search code bits SC[0:2] match corresponding classcode bits CC[0:2], then AND gate 406 asserts the select signal SEL tologic high, thereby enabling the corresponding CAM block 102 toparticipate in the compare operation. Otherwise, if any of the searchcode bits SC[0:2] mismatch corresponding class code bits CC[0:2], theAND gate 406 de-asserts the select signal to logic low, therebydisabling the corresponding CAM block 102 from participating in thecompare operation. Since class code bits may be loaded into flip-flops402(0)-402(2) before a compare operation, the gate delay associated withgenerating the select signal during the compare operation is only 2 gatedelays, one for XNOR gates 404 and one for AND gate 406, and thereforehas a negligible effect upon device performance.

FIG. 5 shows a block select circuit 500 that is another embodiment ofthe block select circuit 300. Here, a logic circuit 502 is coupled tothe output terminal of the AND gate 406 to allow for direct control ofthe select signal SEL using control signals EN and SEL_OV. The logiccircuit 502 includes an OR gate 504 having a first terminal coupled tothe output terminal of the AND gate 406, a second terminal to receiveEN, and an output terminal coupled to a first input terminal of an ANDgate 508. The AND gate 508 includes a second input terminal to receiveSEL_OV, and an output terminal to provide the select signal SEL. Thesignal EN enables the corresponding CAM block 102 to participate in thecompare operation when the output of AND gate 406 is logic high. Whenasserted to logic high, EN enables the corresponding CAM block 102 forthe compare operation and, conversely, when de-asserted to logic low, ENdisables the corresponding CAM block 102 for the compare operationregardless if there is a match condition. The EN signal may be used toselectively disable CAM blocks 102, for instance, when defective. Thesignal EN is shown in FIG. 5 as being provided by a fuse 506, althoughin other embodiments EN may be provided by other means such as aprogrammable memory element, e.g., a register, flip-flop, EPROM, EEPROM,SRAM, etc. The signal SEL_OV is a select override signal that, whenasserted to logic high, may be used to force the select signal SEL tologic high to enable the corresponding CAM block 102 to participate incompare operations, irrespective of whether there is a class match. Foran alternative embodiment, the relative locations of OR gate 504 and ANDgate 508 may be reversed such that when SEL_OV is set to a logic highstate, then SEL will be set to a logic high state irrespective ofwhether there is a class match or the logic state of EN.

FIG. 6 shows a 1-bit comparand driver 600 that is used in one embodimentof the comparand drivers 208. Driver 600 includes AND gates 602, 604,and 606, and also includes buffers 608 and 610. AND gate 602 includesinput terminals to receive the clock signal CLK and the select signalSEL, and an output terminal coupled to first input terminals of ANDgates 604 and 606. AND gate 604 includes a second input terminal coupledto the data line D, and an output terminal coupled to the buffer 608,which in turn drives the comparand line CL. AND gate 606 includes asecond input terminal coupled to the complementary data line {overscore(D)}, and an output terminal coupled to the buffer 610, which in turndrives the complementary comparand line {overscore (CL)}. Buffers 608and 610 may be any suitable buffers to drive comparand data onto thecomparand lines CL and {overscore (CL)}. A plurality of drivers 600 mayshare the AND gate 602.

During a compare operation, a comparand bit is provided to AND gate 604via data line D, and a complementary comparand bit is provided to ANDgate 606 via complementary data line {overscore (D)}. When CLK is logichigh, the select signal SEL propagates through AND gate 602 to AND gates604 and 606. If the select signal is asserted to logic high, AND gate606 passes the comparand bit to the buffer 608, which in turn drives thecomparand bit onto the comparand line CL. Similarly, AND gate 608 passesthe complementary comparand bit to the buffer 610, which in turn drivesthe complementary comparand bit onto the complementary comparand line{overscore (CL)}. Thus, when the select signal SEL is asserted, thecomparand driver 600 drives the comparand lines CL and {overscore (CL)}with the comparand data received from the comparand register 210 viadata lines D and {overscore (D)}.

Conversely, if the select signal SEL is de-asserted to logic low toindicate that the corresponding CAM block 102 is not to participate inthe compare operation, AND gates 606 and 608 force their respectiveoutput terminals to logic low. In response thereto, buffers 608 and 610force the comparand line CL and the complementary comparand line{overscore (CL)}, respectively, to logic low. In this manner, when theselect signal SEL is de-asserted, the comparand driver 600 does notdrive complementary comparand data onto the comparand lines CL and{overscore (CL)}, thereby precluding the corresponding CAM block 102from participating in the compare operation while minimizing powerconsumption in the CAM block.

The present invention is also particularly useful in increasingmanufacturing yield of a CAM device by disabling defective CAM blocks inthe device. Thus, for instance, during manufacture of a CAM devicehaving n CAM blocks, if one or more of the CAM blocks are found to bedefective or otherwise inoperable after manufacturing, rather thandiscarding the entire device, the defective blocks may be disabled usingthe block select circuits as described above, and the remainingnon-defective CAM blocks may then be used for compare operations. Forexample, in one embodiment where the CAM device includes 8 CAM blockseach having 1 k rows of CAM cells, if one of the CAM blocks isdefective, that CAM block is disabled, and the remaining 7 CAM blocksmay be used as a 7 k CAM device. Accordingly, the ability to use the CAMdevice when one or more of its CAM blocks are defective advantageouslyincreases manufacturing yield of the CAM device.

FIG. 7 shows a CAM device 700 that is a modified embodiment of thedevice 100 of FIG. 1 which allows for one or more defective CAM blocksto be disabled for CAM operations, and also includes circuitry whichtranslates or re-assigns address locations in defective CAM blocks toaddress locations in non-defective CAM blocks. The device 700 includesaddress logic 701, a plurality of CAM blocks 702(1)-702(n), a pluralityof block select circuits 706(1)-706(n) corresponding to CAM blocks702(1)-702(n), respectively, a priority encoder 708, and full flag logic710. Each of the block select circuits 706(1)-706(n) provides to thecorresponding CAM block 702 a select signal which may be used asdescribed above to disable the CAM block 702 if, for example, the CAMblock 702 is defective.

The block select circuit 706 may be any suitable circuit to provideeither a logic high (enabling) or a logic low (disabling) select signalSEL to the corresponding CAM block 702. In some embodiments, the blockselect circuit 706 includes a memory (not shown in FIG. 7) for storing abinary value indicative of SEL. In some embodiments, the block selectcircuit 706 provides a logic high SEL signal if the corresponding CAMblock 702 is not defective, and provides a logic low SEL signal if thecorresponding CAM block 702 is defective. In one embodiment, the blockselect circuit 706 may include the block select circuit 500 (FIG. 5), inwhich case the signal EN may be set to a low logic state by blowing fuse506 to disable a defective CAM block 702 via signal SEL. In otherembodiments, the block select circuit 706 may be a fuse (or a memoryelement) connected between the CAM block 702 and a voltage supply, inwhich case the fuse may be blown to provide a logic low SEL signal todisable the corresponding CAM block 702.

After fabricating the device 700, each of the CAM blocks 702(1)-702(n)is tested in a suitable manner. For each CAM block 702 that is found tobe defective, the corresponding block select circuit 706 is configuredto provide a logic low select signal SEL to the CAM block 702 to disablethe CAM block. Conversely, for each CAM block 702 that is not defective,the corresponding block select circuit 706 is configured to provide alogic high select signal to the CAM block to enable its participation inCAM operations.

Testing the CAM blocks of a CAM device and then selectively disablingthe defective CAM blocks in an embodiment using a fuse to provide SEL isillustrated with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 8. Here, a fuse(not shown for simplicity) in each block select circuit 706 is coupledto a voltage supply and thus initially provides an asserted (e.g., logichigh) SEL to enable the corresponding CAM block 702. Each CAM block 702is tested in a suitable manner to determine whether it is defective(step 750). If the CAM block is defective, as tested at step 751, SEL isde-asserted (e.g., to logic low) to disable the defective CAM block byblowing the fuse. Otherwise, if the CAM block is not defective, thecorresponding fuse is not blown, and the corresponding CAM block remainsenabled. If all CAM blocks have been tested, as determined at step 753,processing is finished (step 754). Otherwise, the next CAM block istested and thereafter disabled if found to be defective (steps 750-752).

During a compare operation, each CAM block 702 receives comparand datafrom the comparand bus CBUS in a manner similar to that of CAM blocks102 of device 100 of FIG. 1. Other signals provided to device 700 duringthe compare operation may be a clock signal CLK, one or moreinstructions from an instruction decoder (not shown for simplicity), andother control signals. Each CAM block 702 provides a plurality of matchline signals to the priority encoder 708 via corresponding match linesML. The match lines carry match signals indicative of match conditionsin the CAM arrays 704. For simplicity, the plurality of match lines MLfrom each CAM block 702 are represented collectively in FIG. 7. Thepriority encoder 708 generates an index corresponding to one of thematching CAM words in the device 700, which as described above may bethe index of the highest-priority matching CAM row.

Each CAM block 702 provides a full flag signal FF indicative of whetherthe CAM block is full, i.e., whether there are any available row in theCAM block 702 to store data, to full flag logic 710. The full flagsignal FF may be generated for each CAM block 702 in a well-known mannerusing one or more valid bits in each row of the CAM block. The full flagsignals FF_1 to FF_n provided by CAM blocks 702(1)-702(n), respectively,are combined in a well-known manner in fill flag logic 710 to generate adevice full flag signal, FF_device, indicative of whether there are anyavailable rows in the device 700. When a CAM block 702 is found to bedefective or otherwise inoperable for its intended purpose, the CAMblock 702 is configured to maintain an asserted full flag signal FF toindicate that the defective CAM block 702 does not include any availablememory locations. In one embodiment, the full flag signal FF for thedefective CAM block may be maintained in the asserted state by forcingthe valid bits in its array 704 to an asserted state. In otherembodiments, a fuse may be provided within or associated with each CAMblock 702 that, when blown, forces the corresponding full flag signal FFto be asserted.

Address logic 701 is shown in FIG. 7 as coupled to an address bus ABUSand each of the CAM blocks 702(1)-702(n). During read and writeoperations, an address provided to the device 700 may be received intoaddress logic 701 via address bus ABUS, and thereafter used to select arow in one of the CAM blocks 702(1)-702(n) for the read or writeoperation. In accordance with the present invention, if a CAM block 702to which the address refers is defective, and is thus disabled for theoperation using the corresponding block select circuit 706 as describeabove, address logic 701 translates the address from the defective ordisabled CAM block to a non-defective CAM block. Conversely, if the CAMblock 702 to which the address refers is non-defective, and is thusenabled for operation, address logic 701 forwards the address to theappropriate CAM block 702. As explained more fully below, address logic701 ensures a contiguous addressing scheme in the CAM blocks 702 whenone or more CAM blocks 702 are defective and disabled, even when thenon-defective CAM block(s) 702 are not adjacent to each other.

For alternate embodiments, address logic 701 may be omitted. For oneexample, contiguous non-defective blocks starting from block 702(1) maystill be used. For other embodiments, any non-defective block may beused.

FIG. 9 shows a CAM device 800 that is one embodiment of the CAM device700. CAM device 800 is shown to include address translation logic 801,four CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3), and a main priority encoder 806. Each CAMblock 802 includes a CAM array 704 (e.g., a 1 k CAM array), a blockpriority encoder 804, and match flag logic 805. Of course, in otherembodiments, there may be any number of CAM blocks 802, and each CAMblock array 704 may include any number of rows of CAM cells. The addressA may include any suitable number of bits. In the embodiment of FIG. 9,the function of the priority encoder 708 of FIG. 7 is distributedbetween the individual block priority encoders 804 within the CAM blocks802(0)-802(3) and the main priority encoder 806. During a read or writeoperation, a 14-bit address A[13:0] may be provided to the device 800via the address bus ABUS. The first two address bits A[13:12] are theblock address bits and are provided to address translation logic 801,which in turn selects one of the CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3) for the reador write operation via block select signals BS_0 to BS_3, respectively.The remaining twelve address bits, A[11:0], select a row in the CAMarray 704 selected by address translation logic 801 for the operation,and may be provided to each CAM block 802. During read or writeoperations, data may be read from or written to the row identified byrow address bits A[11:0] in the CAM block 802 selected by addresstranslation logic 801.

Information indicative of which CAM blocks 802 are found to be defectiveduring testing may be used to configure address translation logic 801 tore-address the non-defective CAM blocks 802 so as to occupy, forinstance, the contiguous highest-priority address space (e.g., thelowest numbered addresses). During a read or write operation, addresstranslation logic 801 receives block address bits A[13:12]. If a CAMblock 802 selected by block address bits A[13:12] is non-defective orotherwise enabled, address translation logic 801 asserts thecorresponding block select signal BS to enable the selected CAM block802 for the operation. For example, if an address [13:0] selects thefirst row in the first CAM block 802(0) for reading, and CAM block802(0) is non-defective, address translation logic 801 asserts BS_0 tologic high while maintaining BS_1, BS_2, and BS_3 in a logic low,de-asserted state. The asserted BS_0 signal causes row address bitsA[11:0] to be latched into the first CAM block 802(0), therebyfacilitating a read from the first CAM block 802(0).

Conversely, if a CAM block 802 selected by block address bits A[13:12]is defective or otherwise disabled, address translation logic 801selects another CAM block for the operation by asserting itscorresponding block select signal BS. For example, if the address [13:0]selects the first row in the first CAM block 802(0) for reading, and CAMblock 802(0) is defective and the second CAM block 802(1) isnon-defective, address translation logic 801 may assert BS_1 to logichigh while maintaining BS_0, BS_2, and BS_3 in a logic low, de-assertedstate. The asserted BS_1 signal causes row address bits A[11:0] to belatched into the second CAM block 802(1), thereby facilitating a readfrom the second CAM block 802(1). In this manner, address translationlogic 801 may re-address read or write operations from defective CAMblocks to non-defective CAM blocks.

In some embodiments, the block select signal BS provided to the CAMblock 802 may be used as an address gating signal to facilitate addresstranslation in accordance with present embodiments. For example, FIG. 10shows a CAM array 900 that is one embodiment of the array 704 of FIG. 7.The array 900 includes a plurality of CAM cells 202 organized in anynumber of rows and columns, and operates in a manner similar to the CAMarray 200 described above with respect to FIG. 2. That is, duringcompare operations, comparand data provided by the comparand register210 is selectively driven onto the complementary comparand lines CL and{overscore (CL)} in response to the select signal SEL provided by theblock select circuit 706. If the array 900 is non-defective, the selectsignal SEL is asserted to logic high to allow the comparand word to bedriven into the array 900 for comparison with CAM words stored therein.Conversely, if the array 900 is found to be defective during testing,the block select circuit 706 is configured to provide a de-assertedselect signal SEL to the comparand drivers 208 to prevent comparand datafrom being driven onto the comparand lines CL and {overscore (CL)},thereby disabling the array 900.

Address bits A[11:0] are provided from address bus ABUS to the addressdecoder 204. Address gating logic 902 is connected between the addressdecoder 204 and corresponding word lines WL of the array 900 via gatedlines GL, and selectively drives a word line WL identified by A[11:0] inresponse to the block select signal BS. For example, during a read orwrite operation, address decoder 204 decodes A[11:0] to select a row ofCAM cells 202 for the operation, and drives a corresponding gated lineGL to logic high. If BS is asserted to logic high, address gating logic902 drives the corresponding word line WL to select the row of CAM cells202 for the operation. Conversely, if BS is de-asserted to logic low,address logic 902 does not drive any of the word lines WL to logic high,regardless of A[11:0], thereby preventing CAM cells 202 in the arrayfrom being addressed for the operation. In one embodiment, addressgating logic 902 may include for each word line WL in the array 900 anAND gate (not shown) having an output terminal coupled to the word line,a first input terminal coupled to the corresponding gated line GL, and asecond input terminal to receive the block select signal BS. In thismanner, the AND gates may be used to selectively gate the addressing ofCAM cells in the block in response to BS. Of course, in otherembodiments other suitable logic may be used.

FIG. 11 shows address translation logic 1000 that is one embodiment ofthe address translation logic 801 of FIG. 9. Logic 1000 includes decodelogic 1002, four 4-input multiplexers 1004(0)-1004(3), and fourcorresponding memory elements 1006(0)-1006(3), respectively. Decodelogic 1002 has an input terminal to receive block address bits A[13:12],and has four output terminals coupled to corresponding input terminalsof the multiplexers 1004(0)-1004(3) via lines 1008(0)-1008(3),respectively. Decode logic 1002 decodes block address bits A[13:12], andin response thereto, asserts one of output lines 1008(0)-1008(3) tologic high. For example, if address bits A[13:12] are “00”, which isequivalent to the decimal value “0”, decode logic asserts line 1008(0);if address bits A[13:12] are “01”, which is equivalent to the decimalvalue “1”, decode logic 1002 asserts line 1008(1); if address bitsA[13:12] are “10”, which is equivalent to the decimal value “2”, decodelogic 1002 asserts line 1008(2); and if address bits A[13:12] are “11”,which is equivalent to the decimal value “3”, decode logic 1002 assertsline 1008(3).

The multiplexers 1004(0)-1004(3) each include an output terminal coupledto a corresponding one of the CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3), respectively,and a control terminal coupled to a corresponding one of the memoryelements 1006(0)-1006(3), respectively. Each memory element 1006 storesaddress translation information that when provided to the correspondingmultiplexer 1004 selects one of the signals provided by decode logic1002 to be output as the block select signal BS. In this manner,multiplexers 1004(0)-1004(3) may dynamically assign block address valuesto CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3), respectively.

In accordance with present embodiments, a read or write operation to adefective CAM block may be re-addressed to a non-defective CAM block bymanipulating the address translation information stored in the memoryelements 1006(0)-1006(3). In some embodiments, where all CAM blocks802(0)-802(3) are non-defective, the memory elements 1006(0)-1006(3)store default block address values so as to not alter CAM addressingduring the read or write operation. That is, the default block addressvalues cause respective multiplexers 1004(0)-1004(3) to selectcorresponding signals on lines 1008(0)-1008(3) as block select signalsBS_0 to BS_3, respectively. For example, memory element 1006(0) maystore a default block address value of “0” to cause multiplexer 1004(0)to select the signal on line 1008(0) as BS_0, memory element 1006(1) maystore a default block address value of “1” to cause multiplexer 1004(1)to select the signal on line 1008(1) as BS_1, memory element 1006(2) maystore a default block address value of “2” to cause multiplexer 1004(2)to select the signal on line 1008(2) as BS_2, and memory element 1006(3)may store a default block address value of “3” to cause multiplexer1004(3) to select the signal on line 1008(3) as BS_3. In this manner,address translation logic 1000 selects for the read or write operationthe CAM block identified by address bits A[13:12]. Table 1 summarizesthe four default block address/multiplexer select values (MUX) andcorresponding address space when all CAM blocks are non-defective. TABLE1 Block Status MUX address space CAM 802(0) non-defective 0  0 to k−1CAM 802(1) non-defective 1  k to 2k−1 CAM 802(2) non-defective 2 2k to3k−1 CAM 802(3) non-defective 3 3k to 4k−1

The CAM device 800 is then tested to determine if any CAM blocks aredefective. Where it is determined that one or more CAM blocks aredefective, the select values stored in memory elements 1006(0)-1006(3)may be modified to re-address the non-defective CAM blocks. For example,if after testing it is determined that CAM block 802(0) is defective,and is thereafter disabled using the corresponding block select circuit706 as described above (see also FIG. 7), the 1 k CAM rows in thedefective CAM block 802(0) are no longer available, and therefore thedevice 800 now has only 3 k available CAM rows available, i.e., 1 k rowsin each of the 3 non-defective CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3). Since the firstCAM block 802(0) is not available, it is desirable for the second CAMblock 802(1) to be the highest-priority CAM block (e.g., having addressspace 0 to k-1), for the third CAM block 802(2) to be the secondhighest-priority CAM block (e.g., having address space k to 2 k-1), andfor the fourth CAM block 802(3) to be the third highest-priority CAMblock (e.g., having address space 2 k to 3 k-1).

The block address values stored in corresponding memory elements1006(0)-1006(3) may be modified to implement a new addressing scheme forthe non-defective CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3). For example, in oneembodiment, the block address value stored in the memory element 1006(1)is set to “0” so that multiplexer 1004(1) selects the signal on line1008(0) as BS_1 to be provided to CAM block 802(1). When A[13:12] equals“00”, decode logic 1002 asserts line 1008(0) to logic high, which inturn now passes through multiplexer 1006(1) to select the second CAMblock 802(1) for the operation. In this manner, address translationlogic 1000 translates address space 0 to k-1 from CAM block 802(0) toCAM block 802(1).

Similarly, the block address value stored in the memory element 1006(2)is set to “1” so that multiplexer 1004(2) selects the signal on line1008(1) as BS_2 to provide to CAM block 802(2). When A[13:12] equals“01”, decode logic 1002 asserts line 1008(1) to logic high, which inturn now passes through multiplexer 1004(2) to select the third CAMblock 802(2) for the operation, thereby translating address space k to 2k-1 from CAM block 802(1) to CAM block 802(2). Similarly, the blockaddress value stored in the memory element 1006(3) is set to “2” so thatmultiplexer 1004(3) selects the signal on line 1008(2) as BS_3 toprovide to CAM block 802(3). When A[13:12] equals “10”, decode logic1002 asserts line 1008(2) to logic high, which in turn now passesthrough multiplexer 1004(3) to select the fourth CAM block 802(3) forthe operation, thereby translating address space 2 k to 3 k-1 from CAMblock 802(2) to CAM block 802(3). Table 2 summarizes the select valueswhen CAM block 802(0) is defective and CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3) arenon-defective. TABLE 2 Block Status MUX address space CAM 802(0)defective 3 3k to 4k−1* CAM 802(1) non-defective 0  0 to k−1 CAM 802(2)non-defective 1  k to 2k−1 CAM 802(3) non-defective 2 2k to 3k−1*not used

By translating address space in CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3), respectively,present embodiments may re-address rows in non-defective CAM blocks802(1)-802(3) with the highest-priority CAM addresses, e.g., rowaddresses 0 to 3 k-1. In this manner, the three non-defective CAM blocks802(1)-802(3) of device 800 may be sold and operated as a 3 k CAM array.This is in contrast to prior art CAM devices, which are typicallydiscarded if any of the CAM blocks therein are found to be defective.The ability to re-address the defective CAM block 802(0) and use thenon-defective CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3) of device 800 as a 3 k CAM array,rather than discarding the device 800, may significantly increasemanufacturing yield.

In the example above, address space in the defective CAM block 802(0) istranslated from row assignments 0 to k-1 to row assignments 3 k to 4 k-1by changing the select value stored in the memory element 1006(0) from“0” to “3”. This ensures that the defective CAM block 802(0) will not beaddressed during read or write operations. That is, since the 3non-defective CAM blocks are used as a 3 k CAM array having addressspace 0 to 3 k-1, address space higher than 3 k-1 is not used, andtherefore the defective CAM block 802(0) will not be addressed. For analternate embodiment, the block select signal BS_0 can be set to a lowlogic state to disable block 802(0). For one example, the output of eachMUX can be coupled to a logic circuit (e.g., one or more AND, OR, XOR,NOT circuits) and memory 1006 configured to disable BS and itscorresponding block when a particular value is programmed into memory1006 (or the value is changed in memory 1006).

In other embodiments, the block address values stored in memory elements1006(0)-1006(3) may be modified to translate address space in any numbern of non-defective CAM blocks into a contiguous address space of 0 to(k)n-1, irrespective of whether the non-defective CAM blocks areadjacent to one another. Thus, for example, if in one embodiment the CAMblocks 802(0) and 802(2) are defective and CAM blocks 802(1) and 802(3)are non-defective, the non-defective CAM blocks 802(1) and 802(3) may beconfigured for operation as a 2 k CAM array by setting the block addressvalues for memory elements 1006(1) and 1006(3) to “0” and “1”,respectively. In this manner, the first 1 k address space correspondingA[13:12] equal to “00” selects CAM block 802(1), and the second 1 kaddress space corresponding to A[13:12] equal to “01” selects CAM block802(3). The block address values stored in memory elements 1006(0) and1006(2) each may be either “2” or “3” to preclude their selection duringoperation, since addresses above 2 k-1, i.e., the third or fourth 1 kaddress spaces corresponding to A[13:12] equal to “10” or “11”,respectively, are not used. Table 3 summarizes the block address valuesand corresponding address space when CAM blocks 802(0) and 802(2) aredefective and CAM blocks 802(1) and 802(3) are non-defective. TABLE 3Block Status MUX Address Space CAM 802(0) defective 2 or 3 >2k* CAM802(1) non-defective 0 0 to k−1 CAM 802(2) defective 2 or 3 >2k* CAM802(3) non-defective 1 k to 2k−1*not used

Each memory element 1006 may be any suitable structure to provide ablock address value to the corresponding multiplexer 1004 to select oneof lines 1008(0)-1008(3) to pass as the block select signal BS. In someembodiments, the memory element may be a flip-flop, register, look-uptable, or non-volatile memory such EPROM or Flash memory. In otherembodiments, the memory element 1006 may include one or more fuses toprovide the block address value to the corresponding multiplexer 1004.

For one example, in one embodiment of the CAM device 800, each memoryelement 1006 includes two fuses coupled to a voltage supply to initiallyprovide the binary value “11” to corresponding multiplexers 1004. Inthis example, since each multiplexer 1004 initially selects the signalline connected to its “3” input in response to the binary block addressvalue “11”, the “3” input of each multiplexer 1004 is connected to acorresponding numbered signal line 1008 from decode logic 1002. That is,input 3 of multiplexer 1004(0) is connected to the line 1008(0), inputnumber 3 of multiplexer 1004(1) is connected to the line 1008(1), inputnumber 3 of multiplexer 1004(2) is connected to the line 1008(2), andinput number 3 of multiplexer 1004(3) is connected to the line 1008(3).The remaining multiplexer inputs 0, 1, and 2 may be connected to lines1008 in any suitable configuration. In this manner, multiplexer 1004(0)asserts BS_0 when A[13:12] equals “00”, multiplexer 1004(1) asserts BS_1when A[13:12] equals “01”, multiplexer 1004(2) asserts BS_2 whenA[13:12] equals “10”, and multiplexer 1004(3) asserts BS_3 when A[13:12]equals “11”. Then, if after testing one or more of the CAM blocks 802are found to be defective, the fuses of each memory element 1008 may beselectively blown to translate address space from defective CAM blocksto non-defective CAM blocks 802 to facilitate contiguous addressing inthe manner described above. Additionally, the two logic ones may beANDed together and provided as one input to an AND gate, and the otherinput to the AND gate coupled to a respective BS signal output by eachMUX. When a defective row is programmed to a value other than “11”, thenthe respective BS signal and corresponding block will be disabled.

In order to maintain address consistency between read or writeoperations and compare operations when address space in a defective CAMblock is translated to a non-defective CAM block, address translationinformation used during the read or write operation is also used tocalculate the address or index of a matching CAM row during compareoperations. Thus, for example, if address space 0 to k-1 is translatedfrom CAM block 802(0) to 802(1), and there is a match in CAM block802(1) during a subsequent compare operation, the priority encoder 806ensures that the matching index from CAM block 802(1) lies withinaddress space 0 to k-1, rather than within address space k to 2 k-1. Inthis manner, address translations facilitated during a read or writeoperation are reflected during subsequent compare operations.

Referring again to FIG. 9, during compare operations, a comparand wordprovided on CBUS is compared to data stored in all enabled (e.g.,non-defective) CAM blocks 802. For each enabled CAM block 802, if thereis a match condition in response to the compare operation, match flaglogic 805 asserts a match flag (MF_0 to MF_3) to a logic high state, andthe priority encoder 804 within the CAM block 802 outputs the 12-bit rowindex I (or address) of the highest priority matching CAM row in theblock. If there is not a match, the match flags are not asserted (i.e.,match flag logic 805 sets MF to low logic state). For one embodiment,each match flag logic includes a programmable element (e.g., a fuse orother memory element) that is programmed when the CAM block is disabled.The match flags MF_0 to MF_3 and row indexes I0-I3 from CAM blocks802(0)-802(3), respectively, are provided to the main priority encoder806. The main priority encoder 806 adds a unique block index to each rowindex I provided by CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3) to form a correspondingdevice index. The main priority encoder 806 uses the match flag signalsMF_0 to MF_3 to select the highest-priority device index from CAM blocks802(0)-802(3) to output as the system index, I_sys.

The main priority encoder 806 is programmable and stores the blockindexes for CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3) in memory (not shown in FIG. 9).The block indexes are dynamic values that may be modified or programmedto reflect and thus maintain consistency with address translations asdescribed above in a read or write operation. Initially, the mainpriority encoder stores a block index of “00” for CAM block 802(0), ablock index of “01” for CAM block 802(1), a block index of “10” for CAMblock 802(2), and a block index of “11” for CAM block 802(3). Theseinitial block indexes, which are used when all CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3)are enabled, mirror the block address values stored in memory elements1006(0)-1006(3) of address translation logic 1000 of FIG. 11. If one ormore CAM blocks 802 are found to be defective or are otherwise disabled,the block indexes stored in main priority encoder 806 are modified toreflect address translations during the read or write operation. Forexample, if CAM blocks 802(0) and 802(2) are disabled and address spacesin non-defective CAM blocks 802(1) and 802(3) are translated to addressspace 0 to k-1 and address space k to 2 k-1, respectively, main priorityencoder 806 adds a block index of “00” to row index I1 to generate thedevice index for CAM block 802(1) and adds a block index “01” to rowindex I3 to generate the device index for CAM block 802(3). In thismanner, address consistency between read/write operations and compareoperations is maintained.

FIG. 12 shows a priority encoder 1200 that is one embodiment of the mainpriority encoder 806 of FIG. 9. The priority encoder 1200 includes achain of four multiplexers 1202(0)-1202(3), four corresponding memoryelements 1204(0)-1204(3), and select logic including an inverter 1206and OR gates 1208 and 1210. Each memory element 1204 stores a 2-bitblock index for a corresponding CAM block 802. The memory elements 1204may be the same as memory elements 1006 of FIG. 11, or they may beseparate memory elements. Each multiplexer 1202 includes a first input(i.e., the “1” input) coupled to the output of a preceding multiplexer1202 in the chain, a second input (i.e., the “0” input) to receive aconcatenation of a 12-bit index I of the highest priority match (if any)from a corresponding CAM block 802 and a 2-bit block index from thecorresponding memory element 1204, an output coupled to input “1” of anext multiplexer 1202, and a select terminal to receive matchinformation from the CAM blocks 802.

The concatenation of a 12-bit row index I and the 2-bit block indexforms a 14-bit device index of the highest-priority match, if any, froma corresponding CAM block 802. The 1 input of the first multiplexer1202(0) receives a default binary “0” value. MF_0 is inverted byinverter 1206 and provided as the select signal to multiplexer 1202(0),and provided directly as the select signal to multiplexer 1202(1). MF_0and MF_1 are combined in OR gate 1208 and provided as the select signalfor multiplexer 1202(2). MF_2 and the result from OR gate 1208 (i.e.,MF_0+MF_1, where + is the logic OR function) are combined in OR gate1210 and provided as the select signal for multiplexer 1202(3). Asexplained below, the match flags MF control whether each multiplexer1202 passes a concatenated device index from a previous CAM block or theconcatenated device index of the corresponding CAM block.

In this example, CAM block 802(0) is the highest-priority block, CAMblock 802(1) is the next highest-priority block, and so on. For eachmultiplexer stage, if there is a match in the corresponding CAM block802, the row index I and block index are forwarded to the next stage ifthere is not a match condition in a previous or higher-priority CAMblock 802. If there is a match condition in a higher-priority CAM block802, the row index I plus the block index from the higher-priority CAMblock are forwarded to the next stage.

For example, if there is a match condition in the first CAM block802(0), priority encoder 804 of CAM block 802(0) provides the 12-bit rowindex I0 of its highest-priority match to input 0 of multiplexer1202(0), where it is concatenated with the block index from memoryelement 1204(0) to generate the device index for CAM block 802(0). Thematch flag MF_0 is asserted to logic high to indicate the matchcondition. In response thereto, inverter 106 provides a logic low or “0”select signal to multiplexer 1202(0), which in turn forwards the deviceindex from CAM block 802(0) to the next multiplexer 1204(1). The logichigh MF_0 signal causes multiplexer 1204(1) to select input 1, and thusforwards the device index from CAM block 802(0) to the next multiplexer1202(2). MF_0 ripples through OR gates 1208 and 1210 and causesmultiplexers 1202(2) and 1202(3) to output the device index from CAMblock 802(0) as I_sys.

Maintaining equivalent values in corresponding memory elements1006(0)-1006(3) and 1204(0)-1204(3) ensures addressing consistencybetween read or write operations and compare operations. For instance,in one embodiment where all CAM blocks 802(0)-802(3) are non-defectiveor otherwise enabled, memory elements 1204(0)-1204(3) store valuesof“00”, “01”, “10” and “11”, respectively. In this manner, “00” is addedto row index I0 so that the first 1 k addresses are mapped to the firstblock 802(0), “01” is added to row index I1 so that the second 1 kaddresses are mapped to the second block 802(1), “10” is added to rowindex I2 so that the third 1 k addresses are mapped to the third block802(2), and “11” is added to row index I3 from block 802(3) so that thefourth 1 k addresses are mapped to the fourth block 802(3).

The block indexes stored in memory elements 1204(0)-1204(3) may bechanged when address space in one or more CAM blocks 802 is translatedto maintain addressing consistency. For example, in one embodiment whereCAM block 802(0) is defective, CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3) may beconfigured to operate as a 3 k CAM array as described above with respectto address translation logic 1000 (FIG. 11) by setting block addressvalues or their binary equivalents of “0”, “1” and “2” into memoryelements 1006(1), 1006(2), and 1006(3), respectively. This configuresCAM block 802(1) to have the highest-priority address space, i.e.,addresses 0 to k-1, CAM block 802(2) to have the next highest-priorityaddress space, i.e., k to 2 k-1, and CAM block 802(3) to have thelowest-priority address space, i.e., addresses 2 k to 2 k-1.

In accordance with present embodiments, the block indexes stored inmemory elements 1204(0)-1204(3) are modified to reflect addresstranslations facilitated in address translation logic 1000. Since CAMblock 802(0) is disabled (and thus does not require address space), theblock indexes of the remaining enabled CAM blocks 802(1)-802(3) may bemodified to re-assign block priority in the CAM device 800. For example,the block index stored in memory element 1204(1) may be set to “00” sothat when concatenated with row index I1 from the highest-priority CAMblock 802(1), the resultant device index corresponds to thehighest-priority address space, i.e., addresses 0 to k-1. Similarly, theblock indexes stored in memory elements 1204(2) and 1204(3) may bemodified to “01” and “10”, respectively, to reflect address spaces k to2 k-1 and 2 k to 3 k-1, respectively. Since in this embodiment addresseslarger than 3 k are not used, the block index stored in memory element1204(0), which corresponds to the defective CAM block 802(0), may be setto “11” so that disabled CAM block 802(0) is not addressed. Note thatthe match flag signal for a disabled CAM block will be set to a lowlogic state.

CAM Device having Intra-Row Configurability

A CAM system having intra-row configurability is disclosed in referenceto FIGS. 13-58. The intra-row configurability enables a single CAM arrayto be configured to operate in one of many different width and depthconfigurations. For example, a CAM array having Y rows of CAM cells eachhaving Z row segments of W CAM cells can be configured into n differentZY/n depth by nW width configurations, where n is an integer from 1 toZ. For example, the CAM array can be configured as ZY rows of W cellswhen n=1, as ZY/2 rows of 2 W cells when n=2, and so on up to Y rows ofZW cells when n=Z. A user can select or program one of theconfigurations by loading specific configuration information into theCAM system. This single CAM system can be configured to store andmaintain many different desired table configurations. The CAM system mayalso be used to store and maintain multiple tables of different sizes.For example, a first section of the CAM array may be configured suchthat each row in the section has a first number of row segments, while asecond section of the CAM array may be configured such that each row inthat section has a different number of row segments.

FIG. 13 is one embodiment of a CAM system 1100 according to the presentinvention. CAM system 1100 includes a CAM array 1102 that includes Yrows 1122(0)-1122(Y-1) of CAM cells each segmented into Z row segmentsS1-SZ of W CAM cells each, where W, Y, and Z are any integer numbers.The W CAM cells that may be any type of CAM cells including binary andternary CAM cells. One or more of the row segments may also include adifferent number of CAM cells.

CAM array 1102 can be configured into n different ZY/n width by nW depthconfigurations, where n is an integer from 1 to Z. For one embodiment,Y=1024 (1 k) rows, Z=4 segments, and W=72 cells per segment. Thesevalues for W, Y, and Z will be used throughout this application forexample purposes only. For one example, the CAM array can be configuredto operate in three different configurations: (1) 1 k×288, (2) 2 k×144,and (3) 4 k×72 thus enabling a single CAM array to store and maintain adifferent table size in each different mode of operation.

For other embodiments, the CAM array can be configured on a row-by-rowor section-by-section basis to store data words of ×72, ×144 or ×288bits that span one or more rows of the CAM array. For example, a firsthalf of the CAM array may be configured as 512×288, the next quarterconfigured as 512×144 and the final quarter configured as 1 k×72. Thisflexibility allows the CAM system to store and maintain multiple tablesof different sizes.

Configuration information CFG is used to program CAM system 1100 tooperate CAM array 1102 in one of the multiple array configurations. Theconfiguration information includes one or more signals that indicate theoperating configuration of the CAM array and the CAM system. Forexample, a separate configuration or control signal may be associatedwith each configuration of the system. The configuration information maybe stored in configuration register 1118 and subsequently provided overbus 1120 to address logic 1104, priority encoder logic 1112, match flaglogic 1114 and/or multiple match flag logic 1116. Alternatively,configuration register 1118 may be omitted and the configurationinformation provided directly to one or more of the various circuitblocks. For another embodiment, the configuration information may beprovided as part of read, write or compare instructions on theinstruction bus IBUS to instruction decoder 1106.

Instruction decoder 1106 decodes various instructions provided oninstruction bus IBUS. The instructions may include instructions to writedata to one or more row segments of the CAM array, read data from one ormore row segments of the CAM array, and to compare comparand data withone or more row segments of the CAM array. The comparand data may beprovided on the comparand bus CBUS and stored in comparand register 1108or directly provided to CAM array 1102. The CAM system may also includeone or more global mask registers (not shown) for the comparand dataprovided to the CAM array 1102.

The instruction decoder provides various control signals to the addresslogic, read/write circuitry, and comparand register to control when theCAM system performs one of the operations. Additionally, the instructiondecoder may provide one or more control signals to CAM array 1102,priority encoder logic 1112, match flag logic 1114, multiple match flaglogic 1116, and configuration register 1118 to enable these circuits toperform their associated functions at an appropriate time. For analternative embodiment, instruction decoder 1106 may be omitted andvarious read, write and compare control signals may be provided directlyto one or more of the circuit blocks.

Reading and Writing Data

Data can be communicated with the various row segments using addresslogic 1104 and read/write (data access) circuitry 1110. Address logic1104 uniquely addresses one row segment or a group of row segments inresponse to the configuration information and an input address providedon address bus ADDR. The address logic decodes the input address andoutputs a decoded row address and a decoded segment address. The decodedrow address enables one of the rows of CAM cells via word linesWL(0)-WL(Y-1), and the decoded segment address is provided on bus 1124to the read/write circuitry to selectively enable one or more of the rowsegments to communicate data with the data bus DBUS. The configurationinformation provided to address logic 1104 determines whether thedecoded segment address provided to the read/write circuitry enables onerow segment to communicate with the data bus, or enables a group of rowsegments to communicate with the data bus. For example, when the CAMarray is configured in ZY (rows)×W (cells) mode (e.g., 4 k×72), eachdecoded segment address uniquely addresses one row segment of a selectedrow such that data can be written to or read from a particular rowsegment by asserting the corresponding word line and enabling the rowsegment to communicate with DBUS through read/write circuitry 1110. Whenthe CAM array is configured in other configurations, each decodedsegment address uniquely addresses a group of row segments. Data may besimultaneously communicated with the entire group of row segments, ordata may be communicated on a segment-by-segment basis within theaddressed group.

FIG. 14 shows address logic 1280 that is one embodiment of address logic1104 of FIG. 13. Address logic 1280 includes row decoder 1282, rowaddress (RA) select logic 1283, segment decoder 1284, and segmentaddress (SA) select logic 1286. Row decoder 1282 receives and decodesrow address RA to select and enable one of the word lines WL(0)-WL(Y-1).The word lines are each connected to all of the row segments of one ofthe corresponding rows 1122(0)-1122(Y-1). When a word line is enabled,data may be written to or read from a CAM cell in a conventional manner.For an alternative embodiment, each row segment may be connected to itsown word line. In response to the configuration information, RA selectlogic 1283 determines which address signals of an input address on ADDRare provided as RA to the row decoder.

Segment decoder 1284 receives and decodes the segment decoder inputaddress SDA to select and enable one of segment enable lines SEN1-SENZ.Each segment enable line selectively enables a corresponding read/writecircuit RW1-RWZ to communicate data between the DBUS and a correspondingrow segment S1-SZ, respectively, of the selected row of CAM cells. Eachread/write circuit includes conventional read and write circuits such assense amplifiers and data drivers.

Segment decoder 1284 receives SDA from SA select logic 1286. In responseto the configuration information on bus 1120, SA select logic 1286determines SDA from the segment address SA provided on address bus ADDR,the segment select signals SSEL, or from a combination of both. Thesegment address uniquely identifies the address of a row segment or agroup of row segments for a selected row of CAM cells. The segmentselect signals may be used to uniquely address and access one of the rowsegments within an addressed group of row segments.

The operation of address logic 1280 is further illustrated in FIG. 15 inwhich CAM array has Y=1024 rows 1122(0)-1122(1023), Z=4 row segmentsS1-S4 per row, and each row segment having W=72 CAM cells. Otherconfigurations may be used. The CAM array may be configured to operatein three different modes in response to the configuration signals SZ72,SZ144 and SZ288. When SZ72 is enabled, the CAM array operates in a 4k×72 mode; when SZ144 is enabled, the CAM array operates in a 2 k×144mode; and when SZ288 is enabled, the CAM array operates in a 1 k×288mode. A summary of the inputs address signals, RA, SA, SDA and SEN1-SEN4used and generated for this example is shown in the truth tables ofFIGS. 16 and 17.

The input address on the address bus has twelve bits A11-A0. In the 4k×72 mode, all twelve bits A11-A0 are used to uniquely address each ofthe 4 k row segments in CAM array 1102. Bits A11-A2 are selected by RAselect logic 1283 and are used as the row address for row decoder 1282to select one of the CAM rows, and bits A1-A0 are provided to SA selectlogic 1286 and used to select one of the row segments for a selected rowof cells. In this mode, SZ72 is enabled and SA select logic 1286provides A1 and A0 as SD1 and SD0, respectively, to segment decoder1284. A1 and A0 are decoded by segment decoder 1284 to generateSEN1-SEN4 and select a particular row segment in a selected row of cellsfor communication.

In the 2 k×144 mode, eleven bits A10-A0 are used to uniquely addresseach of the 2 k groups of row segments in CAM array 1102. Each group ofrow segments includes two row segments. The most significant bit A11does not participate in addressing a group of row segments. Bits A10-A1are selected by RA select logic 1283 as the row address and are used byrow decoder 1282 to select one of the CAM rows; and bit A0 is providedto SA select logic 1286 and used to select one of the groups of rowsegments for a selected row of cells. In this mode, SZ144 is enabled andSA select logic 1286 provides A0 as SD1 to segment decoder 1284, andprovides SSEL0 as SD0 to segment decoder 1284. A0 and SSEL0 are decodedby segment decoder 1284 to generate SEN1-SEN4 and select forcommunication a particular group of row segments in a selected row ofcells in response to A0, and to select for communication a particularrow segment in the selected group in response to SSEL0. Thus, if aninput address of 0000000000001 is provided as A11-A0, respectively, toaddress the group of row segments S3-S4 of row 1122(0), A10-A1 willaddress row 1122(0), A0 will address row segment S3, and SSEL0 can beused select row segment S4.

In the 1 k×288 mode, ten bits A9-A0 are used to uniquely address each ofthe 1 k groups of row segments in CAM array 1102. Each group of rowsegments includes four row segments (i.e., an entire row). The mostsignificant bits A11-A10 do not participate in addressing a group of rowsegments. Bits A9-A0 are selected by RA select logic 1283 as the rowaddress and are used by row decoder 1282 to select one of the CAM rows.In this mode, SZ288 is enabled and SA select logic 1286 provides SSEL1and SSEL0 as SD1 and SD0, respectively, to segment decoder 1284. SSEL1and SSEL0 are decoded by segment decoder 1284 to generate SEN1-SEN4 andselect a particular row segment in a selected row of cells forcommunication. Thus, if an input address of 0000000000001 is provided asA11-A0, respectively, to address the group of row segments S1-S4 of row1122(1), A9-A0 will address row 1122(1), and SSEL1 and SSEL0 can be usedto select each of row segments S1-S4.

FIG. 18A shows multiplexer 1600 that is one embodiment of SA selectlogic 1286 of FIG. 15. Other embodiments may be used for SA select logic1286. Multiplexer 1600 includes three input ports IP1, IP2, and IP3 forreceiving A1 and A0, A0 and SSEL0, and SSEL1 and SSEL0, respectively.When SZ72 is enabled, A1 and A0 are provided to the output port as SDA1and SDA0. When SZ144 is enabled, A0 and SSEL0 are provided to the outputport as SDA1 and SDA0. Finally, when SZ288 is enabled, SSEL1 and SSEL0are provided to the output port as SDA1 and SDA0. For other embodiments,SA select logic 1286 may be implemented such that A1 and A0 arelogically ANDed with SZ72, A0 and SSEL0 are logically ANDed with SZ144,SSEL1 and SSEL0 are logically ANDed with SZ288, and the results of theAND functions are logically ORed together to provide SEN1-SEN4.

FIG. 18B shows multiplexer 1601 that is one embodiment of RA selectlogic 1283 of FIG. 15. Other embodiments may be used for RA select logic1286. Multiplexer 1601 includes three input ports IP1, IP2, and IP3 forreceiving A11-A2, A10-A1 and A9-A0, respectively. When SZ72 is enabled,A11-A2 are provided to the output port as RA9-RA0. When SZ144 isenabled, A10-A1 are provided to the output port as RA9-RA0. Finally,when SZ288 is enabled, A9-A0 are provided to the output port as RA9-RA0.For other embodiments, RA select logic 1283 may be implemented such thateach of A11-A2 is logically ANDed with SZ72, each of A10-A1 is logicallyANDed with SZ144, each of A9-A0 is logically ANDed with SZ288, and theresults of the AND functions are logically ORed together to provideRA9-RA0.

FIG. 15 illustrates a particular example of the operation of decoder1280 for a particular number of possible CAM array configurations. Themethod used in the example of FIG. 15 can be readily extended toaccommodate any number of configurations of any size CAM array havingany number of row segments each having any number of CAM cells. Forexample, a CAM array having more row segments can be accommodated bysupplying more address bits (SA), select signals, and configurationsignals to SA select logic 1286 (and/or RA select logic 1283), andincreasing the number of SDA bits, the size of segment decoder 1284 andthe number of segment enable signals. In general, the row address willhave log₂Y bits to select one of the Y word lines, and the SA address,SSEL and SDA will each have up to log₂Z bits to address one of the Zsegment enable lines.

FIG. 19 shows address logic 1700 that is another embodiment of addresslogic 1104 of FIG. 13. Address logic 1700 includes a row decoder 1702,segment decoders 1704(1)-1704(x), and multiplexer 1706. Row decoder 1702receives and decodes row address RA to select and enable one of the wordlines WL(0)-WL(Y-1). Segment decoders 1704(1)-1704(x) each receive anddecode a corresponding segment address SA1-SAx to select and enable oneor more of the segment enable lines SEN1-SENZ. The decoded segmentaddresses are provided to input ports IP1-IP(x-1) of multiplexer 1706and selectively provided to SEN1-SENZ in response to the configurationinformation on bus 1120. The last input port IPx has all of its inputsconnected to a logic one state.

Each segment address SA1-SAx has a different number of address bits ofthe input address on address bus ADDR. For example, in ZY×W mode, rowaddress RA uses log₂Y of the most significant address bits to addressone of the rows of CAM cells, and SA1 includes log₂Z of the leastsignificant address bits such that segment decoder 1704(1) generates Zsignals. Multiplexer 1706 provides the Z signals as SEN1-SENZ inresponse to the configuration information indicating the ZY×W mode. Notethat the total number of address bits of the input address on ADDRequals the sum of log₂Y and log₂Z.

In ZY/2×2 W mode, each pair of row segments is uniquely addressable. Inthis mode, row address RA uses log₂Y of the most significant addressbits to address one of the rows of CAM cells. Input address bit 0 isignored (e.g., set to a zero logic state) and the balance of the leastsignificant address bits are used for SA2 (i.e., log₂(Z/2) bits) suchthat segment decoder 1704(2) generates Z/2 signals. The Z/2 signals areused for every other input of input port IP2. Each decoded signal isduplicated to provide the other inputs for input port IP2 as shown inFIG. 19. The signals are duplicated to simultaneously enable a pair ofsegment enable signals and simultaneously communicate data with a pairof uniquely addressable row segments. Multiplexer 1706 provides the Zsignals as SEN1-SENZ in response to the configuration informationindicating the ZY/2×2 W mode.

Each successive SA, associated with additional configurations, has onefewer address bit until SAx provides a single address bit to the lastsegment decoder 1704(x) associated with mode ZY/(Z-1)×(Z-1)W. In thismode, segment decoder outputs two decoded signals. The first decodedsignal is duplicated for the first Z/2 inputs to input port IP(x-1) tosimultaneously enable SEN1-SEN(Z/2) for a selected row, and the seconddecoded signal is duplicated for the second Z/2 inputs to input portIP(x-1) to simultaneously enable SEN(Z/2)-SENZ for a selected row. Thelast input port IPx is associated with Y×ZW mode, and has all inputstied to a high logic state to enable all of the segment enable signalsand address an entire row of row segments with in this mode.

The operation of address logic 1700 is further illustrated in FIG. 20 inwhich CAM array has Y=1024 rows 1122(0)-1122(1023), Z=4 row segmentsS1-S4 per row, and each row segment having W=72 CAM cells. Otherconfigurations may be used. The CAM array may be configured to operatein three different modes in response to the configuration signals SZ72,SZ144 and SZ288.

In the 4 k×72 mode, all twelve bits A11-A0 on address bus ADDR are usedto uniquely address each of the 4 k row segments in CAM array 1102. Themost significant ten bits A11-A2 are used as the row address for rowdecoder 1702 to select one of the CAM rows, and bits A1-A0 are decodedby 2-to-4 segment decoder 1704(1) to select one of the row segments fora selected row of cells. In this mode, SZ72 is enabled and multiplexer1706 provides the output of segment decoder 1704(1) to segment enableslines SEN1-SEN4.

In the 2 k×144 mode, eleven bits A11-A1 are used to uniquely addresseach of the 2 k groups of row segments in CAM array 1102. Each group ofrow segments includes two row segments. The most significant ten bitsA11-A2 are used as the row address for row decoder 1702 to select one ofthe CAM rows, and bit A1 is decoded by 1-to-2 segment decoder 1704(1) toselect one pair of the row segments for a selected row of cells. Theleast significant bit A0 does not participate in addressing a group ofrow segments. In this mode, SZ144 is enabled and multiplexer 1706provides the input signals on input port IP2 to segment enables linesSEN1-SEN4. Thus, if an input address of 0000000000001 is provided asA11-A0, respectively, to address the group of row segments S3-S4 of row1122(0), A11-A2 will address row 1122(0), and SEN3 and SEN4 will enablesimultaneous communication with row segments S3 and S4.

In the 1 k×288 mode, ten bits A11-A2 are used to uniquely address eachof the 1 k groups of row segments in CAM array 1102. Each group of rowsegments includes four row segments (i.e., an entire row). The mostsignificant ten bits A11-A2 are used as the row address for row decoder1702 to select one of the CAM rows. In response to SZ288, multiplexer1706 provides the logic one states of input port IP3 to SEN1-SEN4. Thisenables an entire selected row to simultaneously communicate with thedata bus. The least significant bits A1 and A0 do not participate inaddressing a group of row segments.

Loading the Comparand Data

With reference again to FIG. 13, comparand data may be compared with thedata stored in one or more of the row segments in array 1102. Thecomparand data may be provided on comparand bus CBUS and stored incomparand register 1108, or provided directly to array 1102 forcomparison.

For one embodiment, the width of the CBUS is the same as the totalnumber of CAM cells in a row of CAM cells (i.e., ZW bits). When thesystem is configured in ZY×W mode, Z copies of the comparand data can beloaded into the comparand register for comparison with each of the Zsegments in each row 1122. Similarly, in the ZY/2×2 W mode, Z/2 copiesof the comparand data can be loaded into the comparand register. Thismethodology can be used until in the Y×ZW mode, the comparand data is aswide (has as many bits) as an entire row 1122.

For other embodiments, the CBUS may have a smaller number of bits thanthe total number of bits for the rows 1122. For one example, the widthof the CBUS may be the same as the number of CAM cells in a row segment(i.e., W bits) and the comparand data sequentially and successivelyprovided to each of the row segments S1-SZ for comparison. The comparandregister may be segmented into Z segments each corresponding to one ofthe Z row segments in each of rows 1122 as shown in FIG. 21. Comparanddata can be separately loaded into each of the segments C1-CZ of thecomparand register by enabling signals CEN1-CENZ, respectively. Selectlogic 1902 generates the enable signals in response to the comparandsegment select signals CSSEL and the configuration information. TheCSSEL signals may be generated by the instruction decoder 1106 inresponse to a compare instruction, or may be separately generated by theuser. When the system is configured in ZY×W mode, the CSSEL signalscause select logic 1902 to enable all CEN signals such that the samecomparand data is simultaneously written into all of C1-CZ. In theZY/2×2 W mode (i.e., two row segments per group), the CSSEL signalscause select logic 1902 to enable the odd CEN signals CEN1, CEN3, etc.such that the same first portion of comparand data is written into thefirst comparand segments associated with the first row segments S1, S3,etc. In a subsequent cycle, the CSSEL signals cause select logic 1902 toenable the even CEN signals CEN2, CEN4, etc. such that the same secondportion of comparand data is written into the second comparand segmentsassociated with the second row segments S2, S4, etc. The first andsecond portions of comparand data together form the entire (2 W)comparand data. This methodology continues until in the Y×ZW mode, the1122 CEN signals are sequentially enabled to consecutively load eachportion (W) of the ZW comparand data into one of the Z comparandsegments. The operation of this embodiment is further illustrated by theexample of FIG. 22.

FIG. 22 shows an example in which the CAM array has Y=1024 rows1122(0)-1122(1023), Z=4 row segments S1-S4 per row, and each row segmenthas W=72 CAM cells. The CBUS is also 72 bits wide and provides 72-bitcomparand data to each of comparand segments C1-C4 under the control ofenable signals CEN1-CEN4, respectively. Select logic 1902 generates theenable signals in response to CSSEL1 and CSSEL0 and the configurationsignals SZ72, SZ144 and SZ288. The truth table for the operation ofselect logic 1902 for this embodiment is shown in FIG. 23. When SZ72 isenabled, the CAM array operates in a 4 k×72 mode, and CEN1-CEN4 are allenabled to simultaneously load the same 72-bit comparand data from theCBUS. When SZ144 is enabled, the CAM array operates in a 2 k×144 modeand CSSEL0 determines which CEN signals are enabled. First, C1 and C3are enabled to receive a first portion of the comparand data when CSSELis in a logic zero state. Subsequently, C2 and C4 are enabled to receivea second portion of the comparand data when CSSEL0 is in a logic onestate. When SZ288 is enabled, the CAM array operates in a 1 k×288 modeand both CSSEL1 and CSSEL0 determine when each of the CEN signals areenabled to receive comparand data. In this mode, select logic 1902operates as a 2-to-4 decoder.

FIG. 24 shows multiplexer 2200 that is one embodiment of select logic1902 of FIG. 22 for implementing the truth table of FIG. 23. Otherembodiments may be used. Multiplexer 2200 includes three input portsIP1, IP2, and IP3, an output port OP, and receives the configurationssignals as select signals. Input port IP1 has all its inputs connectedto a logic one state. Input port IP2 has its inputs coupled to 1-to-2decoder 2202. Decoder 2202 decodes CSSEL0 and has its first decodedoutput connected to IP2(1) and IP2(3), and has its second decoded outputconnected to IP2(2) and IP2(4). Input port 3 has its inputs coupled tothe outputs of 2-to-4 decoder 2204. Decoder 2204 decodes CSSEL1 andCSSEL0. When SZ72 is enabled, IP1 provides all logic one states to theoutput port to enable CEN1-CEN4. When SZ144 is enabled, the inputs ofIP2 are provided to the output port. When SZ288 is enabled, the inputsof IP3 are provided to the output port.

FIG. 25 shows another embodiment of select logic 1902 of FIG. 22 usingAND/OR logic. Other embodiments may be used. Select logic 2300 includesa separate AND/OR circuit to generate the CEN signals in response toCSSEL1, CSSEL0, SZ72, SZ144 and SZ288 in accordance with the truth tableof FIG. 23. For example, AND gates 2302 and 2304, and OR gate 2306generate CEN1. AND gate 2302 has a first input coupled to SZ144, asecond input coupled to the logical complement of CSSEL0, and an outputcoupled to an input of OR gate 2306. AND gate 2304 has a first inputcoupled to SZ288, a second input coupled to the logical complement ofCSSEL0, a third input coupled to the logical complement of CSSEL1, andan output coupled to another input of OR gate 2306. OR gate 2306 alsoreceives SZ72 and outputs CEN1. AND gates 2312 and 2314, and OR gate2316 generate CEN2. AND gate 2312 has a first input coupled to SZ144, asecond input coupled to CSSEL0, and an output coupled to an input of ORgate 2316. AND gate 2314 has a first input coupled to SZ288, a secondinput coupled to CSSEL0, a third input coupled to the logical complementof CSSEL1, and an output coupled to another input of OR gate 2316. ORgate 2316 also receives SZ72 and outputs CEN2. AND gates 2322 and 2324,and OR gate 2326 generate CEN3. AND gate 2322 has a first input coupledto SZ144, a second input coupled to the logical complement of CSSEL0,and an output coupled to an input of OR gate 2326. AND gate 2324 has afirst input coupled to SZ288, a second input coupled to the logicalcomplement of CSSEL0, a third input coupled to CSSEL1, and an outputcoupled to another input of OR gate 2326. OR gate 2326 also receivesSZ72 and outputs CEN3. Similarly, AND gates 2332 and 2334, and OR gate2336 generate CEN4. AND gate 2332 has a first input coupled to SZ144, asecond input coupled to CSSEL0, and an output coupled to an input of ORgate 2336. AND gate 2334 has a first input coupled to SZ288, a secondinput coupled to CSSEL0, a third input coupled to CSSEL1, and an outputcoupled to another input of OR gate 2336. OR gate 2336 also receivesSZ72 and outputs CEN4.

Match Flag

With reference again to FIG. 13, the comparand data may be compared withthe data stored in one or more of the row segments in array 1102. Matchresults for comparison with each row segment are indicated on acorresponding match line segment. Each of the Z match line segments1126(0)-1126(Y-1) for a row of CAM cells are provided to match flaglogic 1114. The match flag logic generates a match flag signal MFindicative of when there is at least one match condition in array 1120with the comparand data. Match flag logic 1114 is also responsive to theconfiguration information on bus 1120 such that MF is appropriatelyenabled for the corresponding configuration of system 1100. For example,when array 1102 is in ZY×W mode, match flag logic 1114 determines if thecomparand data matches valid data stored in at least one row segment ofarray 1102. When array 1102 is configured in another mode utilizinggroups of row segments (i.e., n greater than one for ZY/n×nW), matchflag logic 1114 determines if the comparand data matches valid datastored in at least one group of row segments of array 1102.

FIG. 26 shows match flag logic 2400 that is one embodiment of match flaglogic 1114 of FIG. 13. Match flag logic 2400 includes row match circuits2402(0)-2402(Y-1) each associated with corresponding rows of CAM cells1122(0)-1122(Y-1), respectively. Each row match circuit receives thematch results from each of the match line segments M1-MZ of thecorresponding row of CAM cells. In response to the match results on thematch line segments and the configuration information, each row matchcircuit generates a row match signal MR. Each row match signal isindicative of whether one or more row segments (i.e., for ZY×W mode), orone or more groups of row segments (i.e., for ZY/n×nW mode, where n isgreater than 1), for a corresponding row stores data that matches thecomparand data for a particular configuration. The row match signalsMR(0)-MR(Y-1) are then logically combined by array match circuit 2404 togenerate MF for the entire array 1102. For one embodiment, array matchcircuit 2404 includes OR logic that logically ORs the states of the rowmatch signals MR0-MR(Y-1).

FIG. 27 shows row match circuit 2500 that is one embodiment of row matchcircuit 2402(0) of FIG. 26. Row match circuit 2500 may be used for eachrow match circuit. Row match circuit 2500 includes match one logic 2502,group match logic circuits 2504(1)-2504(n-1), and match configurationlogic 2506. Match one logic 2502 determines a match condition in row1122(0) for the ZY×W mode. Match one logic 2502 receives each of thematch line segments M1-MZ from row segments S1-SZ, respectively, andgenerates MONE indicative of whether any one row segment stores datathat matches the comparand data. That is, match one logic 2502determines when at least one of M1-MZ is enabled. When configurationsignal SZ1 is enabled, match configuration logic 2506 outputs MONE asthe row match signal MR0. For one embodiment, match one logic 2502 is anOR logic circuit 2602 that logically combines the logic states of M1-MZto generate MONE as shown by OR gate 2602 in FIG. 28.

Each group match logic circuit 2504(1)-2504(n-1) determines a matchcondition within row 1122(0) for a different configuration of the CAMsystem. Each group match logic circuit receives each of the-match linesegments M1-MZ from row segments S1-SZ, respectively, and logicallycombines unique groupings of the match line segments to generate groupmatch signals MG(1)-MG(n-1). Each unique grouping corresponds to thenumber of row segments that are concatenated together to store data fora given configuration of array 1102. For one embodiment, there are n-1groups of row segments, where n-1=2^(x) and x is an integer from 1 tolog₂Z, and where x is a unique number for each group match circuit. Forexample, in ZY/2×2 W mode, the row segments in array 1102 are grouped bypairs. Group match logic circuit 2504(1) determines whether one or morepairs of match line segments M1 and M2, M3 and M4, etc. indicate a matchcondition. For this first grouping of match line segments, matchconfiguration logic 2506 outputs MG(1) as MR0 when SZG(1) is enabled.One embodiment of group match logic 2504(1) is shown in FIG. 29A andincludes Z/2 AND gates 2702(1)-2702(Z/2) each having two inputs coupledto a unique pair of match line segments. The outputs of AND gates 2702are logically combined by OR gate 2704 to generate MG(1).

Similarly, in ZY/4×4 W mode, the row segments in array 1102 are groupedfour segments at a time. Group match logic circuit 2504(2) determineswhether one or more quartets of match line segments M1-M4, M5-M7, etc.indicate a match condition. For this second grouping of match linesegments, match configuration logic 2506 will output MG(2) as MR0 whenSZG(2) is enabled. One embodiment of group match logic 2504(2) is shownin FIG. 29B and includes Z/4 AND gates 2706(1)-2706(Z/4) each havingfour inputs coupled to a unique, consecutive quartet of match linesegments. The outputs of AND gates 2706 are logically combined by ORgate 2708 to generate MG(2).

This methodology continues until in Y×ZW mode, the row segments in array1102 are grouped Z segments at a time. Group match logic circuit2504(n-1) determines whether all of the match line segments M1-MZ forthe row of CAM cells indicate a match condition. For this last groupingof match line segments, match configuration logic 2506 will outputMG(n-1) as MR0 when SZG(n-1) is enabled. One embodiment of group matchlogic circuit is shows in FIG. 29C as an AND gate 2710 that combinesM1-MZ and generates MG(n-1).

FIG. 30 shows one embodiment of match configuration logic 2506 of FIG.27. Other embodiments may be used. For this embodiment, AND gate 2802determines whether both MONE and SZ1 are enabled, and provides theresult to OR gate 2806. AND gates 2804(1)-2804(n-1) determine whetherone of the group match signals MG(1)-MG(n-1) and a correspondingconfiguration signal SZG(1)-SZG(n-1) are enabled, and the results areprovided to OR gate 2806. OR gate 2806 provides MR0. For anotherembodiment, match configuration logic 2506 may be a multiplexer withMONE and MG(1)-MG(n-1) as the inputs, the configuration signals as theselect signals, and the row match signal as the output.

FIG. 31 shows row match circuit 2900 that is one embodiment of row matchcircuit 2500 of FIG. 27 for a CAM system having Z=4 row segments andfour corresponding match line segments M1-M4. The match one logic isrepresented by OR gate 2902 that logically ORs each of the logic statesof M1-M4 to generate MONE. This embodiment has two group match logiccircuits. The first includes AND gates 2904 and 2906, and OR gate 2908.The second includes AND gates 2904, 2906, and 2910. AND gate 2904 isconnected to M1 and M2, and AND gate 2906 is connected to M3 and M4. ORgate 2908 generates MG(1) by combining the outputs of AND gates 2904 and2906, and AND gate 2910 generates MG(2) by combining the outputs of AND2904 and 2906. The match configuration logic includes AND gates 2912,2914, and 2916, and OR gate 2918. AND gates 2912, 2914, and 2916logically combine SZ1 with MONE, SZG(1) with MG(1), and SZG(2) withMG(2), respectively, to provide inputs for OR gate 2918. OR gate 2918provides MR0. Other embodiments may be used.

FIG. 32 shows match flag logic 3000 that is another embodiment of matchflag logic 1114 of FIG. 13. Match flag logic 3000 includes row matchcircuits 3002(0)-3002(Y-1) associated with corresponding rows of CAMcells 1122(0)-1122(Y-1), respectively. Each row match circuit 3002includes the match one logic 2502 and group match logic circuits2504(1)-2504(n-1) of FIG. 27, but excludes the match configuration logic2506. Instead, MONE and the group match signals from each row matchcircuit are provided to array match circuit 3004. Array match circuit3004 also receives the configuration information CFG and determineswhether one or more row segments, or one or more groups of row segments,stores data that matches the comparand data for a particularconfiguration.

FIG. 33 shows array match circuit 3100 that is one embodiment of arraymatch circuit 3004 of FIG. 32. Array match circuit 3100 includes n ORlogic circuits 3102 and 3104(1)-3104(n-1), and select circuit 3106. Then OR logic circuits generate n composite signals indicative of the matchconditions for the possible configurations of array 1102. OR circuit3102 logically combines the MONE signals MONE(0)-MONE(Y-1) from each rowmatch circuit 3002(0)-3002(Y-1) to generate a composite signal CMONE.CMONE indicates a match condition for the ZY×W mode when any one rowsegment stores data that matches the comparand data. That is, OR circuit3102 determines when at least one of M1-MZ from any of the CAM rows isenabled. Select logic 3106 outputs CMONE as MF when configuration signalSZ1 is enabled.

Each OR circuit 3104(1)-3104(n-1) determines a match condition for adifferent configuration of the CAM system. Each OR circuit 3104logically combines the corresponding group match signals from each rowmatch circuit 3002 to generate a composite group match signal CMG. Forexample, OR circuit 3104(1) combines MG(1)(0)-MG(1)(Y-1)-to generateCMG(1) that indicates a match condition for a first grouping of rowsegments in ZY/2×2 W mode, OR gate 3104(2) combines MG(2)(0)-MG(2)(Y-1)to generate CMG(2) that indicates a match condition for a secondgrouping of row segments in ZY/4×4 W mode, and OR gate 3104(n-1)combines MG(n-1)(0)-MG(n-1)(Y-1) to generate CMG(n-1) that indicates amatch condition for a grouping of Z row segments in Y×ZW mode. One ofthe composite group match signals is provided as MF by select logic 3106in response to the corresponding configuration signal SZG(1)-SZG(n-1).

FIG. 34 shows one embodiment of select circuit 3106. For thisembodiment, the select circuit is a multiplexer 3202 with CMONE andCMG(1)-CMG(n-1) connected to its input ports, the configuration signalsused as the select signals, and MF connected to its output port.

FIG. 35 shows another embodiment of select circuit 3106. For thisembodiment, AND gate 3302 logically combines SZ1 and CMONE and providesthe result to an input of OR Gate 3306. AND gates 3304(1)-3304(n-1)determine whether one of the composite group match signalsCMG(1)-CMG(n-1) and a corresponding configuration signalsSZG(1)-SZG(n-1) are enabled, and the results are provided to OR gate3306. OR gate 3306 provides MF.

FIG. 36 shows array match circuit 3400 that is another embodiment ofarray match circuit 3004 of FIG. 32. Array match circuit 3400 includes nqualifying logic circuits 3402 and 3404(1)-3404(n-1), and OR logic 3406.The n qualifying logic circuits generate n qualified signals that eachindicate match conditions for within a row of CAM cells for the possibleconfigurations of array 1102. Qualifying logic 3402 logically combinesthe MONE signals MONE(0)-MONE(Y-1) from each row match circuit3002(0)-3002(Y-1), and qualifies the results with configuration signalSZ1 to generate qualified MONE signals QMONE(0)-QMONE(Y-1). One or moreof the QMONE signals are enabled only when there is a match condition ina row segment for the ZY×W mode and SZ1 is enabled. If one of QMONE isenabled, select logic 3406 enables MF.

Each qualifying logic circuit 3404(1)-3404(n-1) determines a matchcondition for a different configuration of the CAM system. Eachqualifying logic circuit 3404 logically combines the corresponding groupmatch signals from each row match circuit 3402, and qualifies theresults with corresponding group configuration signals to generatequalified group match signals QCMG. For example, qualifying logic3404(1) combines MG(1)(0)-MG(1)(Y-1) with SZG(1) to generateQCMG(1)(0)-QCMG(1)(Y-1) that each indicate a match condition in a row ofCAM cells for a first grouping of row segments only if SZG(1) is enabled(i.e., in the ZY/2×2 W mode); qualifying logic 3404(2) combinesMG(2)(0)-MG(2)(Y-1) with SZG(2) to generate QCMG(2)(0)-QCMG(2)(Y-1) thateach indicate a match condition in a row of CAM cells for a secondgrouping of row segments only if SZG(2) is enabled (i.e., in the ZY/4×4W mode); and qualifying logic 3404(n-1) combines MG(n-1)(0)-MG(n-1)(Y-1)with SZG(n-1) to generate QCMG(n-1)(0)-QCMG(n-1)(Y-1) that each indicatea match condition for a grouping of Z row segments in the Y×Z-W mode. Ifone of qualified group match signals is enabled, select logic 3406enables MF.

FIG. 37 shows match array logic 3500 that is one embodiment of matcharray logic 3400 of FIG. 36. Other embodiments may be used. Match arraylogic includes qualifying logic circuits 3502 and 3504(1)-3504(n-1) andOR logic 3506. Qualifying logic circuits 3502 and 3504(1)-3504(n-1) areembodiments of logic circuits 3402 and 3404(1)-3404(n-1), respectively.Each of the qualifying logic circuits includes Y two-input AND gates3503 that each logically AND the corresponding configuration signal witheach of the MONE or group match signals. The outputs of the Y AND gatesfor qualifying logic 3502 are provided to OR gate 3508, and the outputsof the Y AND gates for qualifying logic circuits 3504(1)-3504(n-1) areprovided to OR gates 3510(1)-3510(n-1), respectively. The outputs of theOR gates are provided to OR gate 3512 to generate MF.

Multiple Match Flag

With reference again to FIG. 13, multiple match flag logic 1116 monitorsthe match results on the match line segments 1126(0)-1126(Y-1), andenables a multiple match flag MMF when comparand data matches datastored in more than one of the row segments in array 1102 in ZY×W mode(as indicated by the configuration information), or when comparand datamatches data stored in more than one group of row segments in array 1102in other configurations.

FIG. 38 shows multiple match flag logic 3600 that is one embodiment ofmultiple match flag logic 1116 of FIG. 13. Multiple match flag logic3600 includes a row match circuit 3602 and a row multiple match circuit3604 for each corresponding row of CAM cells 1122.

Each row mach circuit 3602 may be the same row match circuit 2402 ofFIG. 26 that receives the match results from each of the match linesegments M1-MZ of a corresponding row of CAM cells and, in response tothe configuration information, generates a row match signal MR. Each rowmatch signal is indicative of whether one or more row segments (i.e.,for ZY×W mode), or one or more groups of row segments (i.e., for ZY/n×nWmode, where n is greater than 1), for a corresponding row stores datathat matches the comparand data for a particular configuration. Arraymultiple match circuit 3606 monitors the match results of the row matchsignals, and enables MMF when there is a match in more than row segment,or more than one group of row segments, in different rows of CAM cellsfor a given configuration.

Each row multiple match circuit 3604 receives the match results fromeach of the match line segments M1-MZ of a corresponding row of CAMcells and, in response to the configuration information, generates a rowmultiple match signal MMR. Each row multiple match signal is indicativeof whether more than one row segment (i.e., for ZY×W mode), or more thanone groups of row segments (i.e., for ZY/n×nW mode, where 1<n<Z), of thecorresponding row stores data that matches the comparand data for aparticular configuration. Array multiple match circuit 3606 monitors thematch results of the row multiple match signals and enables MMF when atleast one of the row multiple match signals is enabled for a givenconfiguration.

FIG. 39 shows row match circuit 3700 that is one embodiment of rowmultiple match circuit 3604(0) of FIG. 38. Row match circuit 3700 may beused for each row multiple match circuit. Row multiple match circuit3700 includes multiple match one logic 3702, group multiple match logiccircuits 3704(1)-3704(n-2), and multiple match configuration logic 3706.Multiple match one logic 3702 determines a multiple match condition inrow 1122(0) for the ZY×W mode. Multiple match one logic 3702 receiveseach of the match line segments M1-MZ from row segments S1-SZ,respectively, and generates MMONE indicative of whether more than onerow segment stores data that matches the comparand data. That is,multiple match one logic 3702 determines when two or more of M1-MZ areenabled. When configuration signal SZ1 is enabled, match configurationlogic 3706 outputs MMONE as the row multiple match signal MMR0. Anymultiple match logic circuitry can be used for logic 3702 to determine amultiple match condition. One embodiment of multiple match one logic isshown in FIG. 40. For this embodiment, two-input AND gates3802(1)-3802(r) each receive a unique combination of two of the matchline segments, where r is determined by the combinatorial formular=Z!/(2!(Z-2)!). The output of each AND gate is provided to OR gate 3804to generate MMONES. One example of the approach of FIG. 40 for four rowsegments is shown in FIG. 41, where all of the combinations of the fourmatch lines segments taken two at a time are provided to AND gates3902(1)-3902(6), and the outputs of the AND gates are provided to ORgate 3904.

Each group multiple match logic circuit 3704(1)-3704(n-2) determines amultiple match condition within row 1122(0) for a differentconfiguration of the CAM system. Each group multiple match logic circuitreceives each of the match line segments M1-MZ from row segments S1-SZ,respectively, and logically combines unique groupings of the match linesegments to generate group multiple match signals MMG(1)-MMG(n-2). Eachunique grouping corresponds to the number of row segments that areconcatenated together to store data for a given configuration of array1102. For one embodiment, there are n-2 groups of row segments, wheren-2=2^(x) and x is an integer from 1 to log₂Z, and where×is a uniquenumber for each group multiple match circuit. For example, in ZY/2×2 Wmode, the row segments in array 1102 are grouped by pairs. Groupmultiple match logic circuit 3704(1) determines whether more than one ofthe pairs of match line segments M1 and M2, M3 and M4, etc. indicate amatch condition. For this first grouping of match line segments,multiple match configuration logic 3706 outputs MMG(1) as MMR0 whenSZG(1) is enabled. One embodiment of multiple match logic 3704(1) isshown in FIG. 42A and includes Z/2 AND gates 4002(1)-4002(Z/2) eachhaving two inputs coupled to a unique, consecutive pair of match linesegments. The outputs of AND gates 4002 are provided to multiple matchlogic 4004 to generate MMG(1). Logic 4304 may be any multiple matchlogic circuit.

Similarly, in ZY/4×4 W mode, the row segments in array 1102 are groupedin four segments at a time. Group multiple match logic circuit 3704(2)determines whether more than one quartet of match line segments M1-M4,M5-M7, etc. indicate a match condition. For this second grouping ofmatch line segments, multiple match configuration logic 3706 outputsMMG(2) as MMR0 when SZG(2) is enabled. One embodiment of multiple matchlogic 3704(2) is shown in FIG. 42B and includes Z/4 AND gates4006(1)-4006(Z/4) each having four inputs coupled to a unique,consecutive quartet of match line segments. The outputs of AND gates4006 are provided to multiple match logic 4008 to generate MMG(2). Logic4008 may be any multiple match logic circuit.

This methodology continues until in ZY/(Z-1)×(Z-1)W mode, the rowsegments in array 1102 are grouped Z/2 segments at a time. Groupmultiple match logic circuit 3704(n-2) determines whether both of theZ/2 groupings of match line segments M1-M(Z/2) and M(Z/2+1)-MZ indicatea match condition. For this grouping of match line segments, multiplematch configuration logic 3706 will output MMG(n-2) as MMR0 whenSZG(n-2) is enabled. One embodiment of multiple match logic 3704(n-2) isshown in FIG. 42C and includes two AND logic circuits 4010(1) and4010(2) each having Z/2 inputs coupled to a unique, consecutive groupingof Z/2 match line segments. The outputs of AND gates 4010 are providedto multiple match logic 4012 to generate MMG(n-2). Logic 4012 may be anymultiple match logic circuit. For one embodiment, multiple match logic4012 may be AND logic that logically ANDs the outputs of AND gates 4010.

The final grouping of row segments in which all row segments are groupedfor a given row (i.e., Y×ZW mode) is taken care of by the row matchcircuits (as will be described below), and does not require a separategroup multiple match logic circuit.

FIG. 43 shows one embodiment of the group multiple match circuits for arow of CAM cells having Z=4 row segments. For this embodiment, only onegroup multiple match circuit may be used to determine when comparanddata matches data stored in group S1-S2 (indicated on M1 and M2) anddata stored in group S3-S4 (indicated on M3 and M4). Thus, a single ANDlogic circuit 4102 may be used to logically AND the logic states ofM1-M4 to generate a single group multiple match signal GMM(1) for row1122(0).

FIG. 44 shows one embodiment of multiple match configuration logic 3706of FIG. 39. Other embodiments may be used. For this embodiment, AND gate4202 determines whether both MMONE and SZ1 are enabled and provides theresult to OR gate 4206. AND gates 4204(1)-4204(n-2) determine whetherone of the group multiple match signals MMG(1)(1)-MMG(n-2) and acorresponding configuration signal SZG(1)-SZG(n-2) are enabled, and theresults are provided to OR gate 4206. OR gate 4206 provides MMR0. Foranother embodiment, multiple match configuration logic 3706 may bemultiplexer with MMONE and MMG(1)-MMG(n-2) as the inputs, theconfiguration signals as the select signals, and the row match signal asthe output.

FIG. 45 shows array multiple match logic 4300 that is one embodiment ofarray multiple match logic 3606 of FIG. 38. Logic 4300 includes multiplematch logic 4302 that receives the row match signals MR0-MR(Y-1), andgenerates an inter-row multiple match signal MMI when there is a matchin more than one row segment, or more than one group of row segments, indifferent rows of CAM cells for a given configuration. MMI is providedto one input of OR logic 4304. OR logic 4304 also receives the rowmultiple match signals MMR0-MMR(Y-1) to enable MMF when there is a matchin more than one row segment, or more than one group of row segments,within a row of CAM cells for a given configuration.

Match Address/Index

With reference again to FIG. 13, priority encoder logic 1112 monitorsthe match results on the match line segments 1126(0)-1126(Y-1) of eachCAM row, and determines a match address or index MA that is the addressof the highest priority row segment or group of row segments (dependingon the configuration information) that stores data that matches thecomparand data. The highest priority address maybe the lowest numericaladdress, the highest numerical address, or any other predeterminedpriority.

FIG. 46 shows priority encoder logic 4400 that is one embodiment ofpriority encoder logic 1112 of FIG. 13. Priority encoder logic 4400includes a row match circuit 4402 and a row priority encoder 4404 foreach corresponding row of CAM cells 1122. Each row mach circuit may bethe same row match circuit 2402 of FIG. 26 that receives the matchresults from each of the match line segments M1-MZ of a correspondingrow of CAM cells and, in response to the configuration information,generates a row match signal MR. Main priority encoder 4406 monitors thematch results reflected on the Y row match signals MR(0)-MR(Y-1) andgenerates a row match address PRA that has log₂Y address bits. The rowaddress corresponds to the address of the highest priority row of CAMcells 1122 that has a row segment or a group of row segments that storesdata that matches the comparand data for a given configuration.

Each row priority encoder receives the match results from each of thematch line segments M1-MZ of a corresponding row of CAM cells and, inresponse to the configuration information, generates a segment addressPSA that that corresponds to the address of the row segment or a groupof row segments within a particular row of CAM cells that stores datathat matches the comparand data for a given configuration. The rowaddress PRA and the segment addresses PSA(0)-PSA(Y-1) are provided toselect logic 4408 to generate the match address in response to theconfiguration information.

For one embodiment, each segment address has log₂Z address bits that mayreflect different values depending on the configuration of thecorresponding row (and array 1102). For example, FIG. 47 shows rowpriority encoder 4402(0) for an embodiment where W=72 and Z=4. For thisexample, row priority encoder 4402(2) outputs segment address bitsPSA0(1) and PSA0(0) in response to the match results on match linesegments M1-M4 and configuration signals SZ72 and SZ144 indicative oftwo configurations for row 1122(0); namely, a ×72 bit mode and a ×144bits mode. A ×288 bit mode which utilizes all of the row segments as oneentire group does not need a separate configuration signal as thesegment address outputs will be ignored and the row address PRA willreflect the match address MA. In the ×72 mode, SZ72 is enabled and eachrow segment S1-SZ is uniquely addressable such that S1 has address 0, S2has address 1, S3 has address 2, and S4 has address 3. FIG. 48 shows oneembodiment of the truth table implemented by row priority encoder4402(0) for the ×72 mode. In the ×144 mode, SZ144 is enabled and eachgroup of two segments S1-S2 and S3-S4 is uniquely addressable such thatS1-S2 has address 0 and S3-S4 has address 1. FIG. 49 shows oneembodiment of the truth table implemented by row priority encoder4402(0) for the ×144 mode in which PSA0(1) is used to reflect theaddress of each group of row segments, and PSA0(0) is ignored. For otherembodiments, PSA0(0) may be used to reflect the address of each group ofrow segments. Other truth tables may be used for FIGS. 48 and 37 (andcorresponding logic generated accordingly) including those thatlogically complement one of more or the signals indicated in the truthtables.

Any logic or circuitry may be used to implement the truth tables ofFIGS. 48 and 49. FIG. 50 shows logic 4800 that is one embodiment ofgenerating PSA0(0) for a logic zero state. Other embodiments may be usedto generate PSA0(1) for a logic one state. Logic 4800 includes NANDgates 4806 and 4808 and inverters 4802 and 4804. NAND gate 4808 has oneinput coupled M3 and the other input coupled to the logical complementof M2 via inverter 4804. NAND gate 4806 has one input coupled to theoutput of NAND gate 4808, and the other input coupled to the logicalcomplement of M1 via inverter 4802. The output of NAND gate 4806provides SA0(0).

FIG. 51 shows logic 4900 that is one embodiment of generating PSA0(1).Other embodiments may be used. Logic 4900 includes NAND gates 4902,4904, 4906, and 4910, and NOR gate 4908. NAND gate 4902 has one inputcoupled to M1 and another input coupled to M2. NAND gate 4904 has oneinput coupled to the output of NAND gate 4904 and another input coupledto SZ144. NAND gate 4906 has one input coupled to the output of NANDgate 4906 and the other input coupled to the output of NAND gate 4910.NAND gate 4910 has one input coupled to SZ72 and the other input coupledto the output of NOR gate 4908. NOR gate 4908 has one input coupled toM1 and the other input coupled to M2.

As indicated above, the-row address and the segment addressesPSA(0)-PSA(Y-1) are provided to select logic 4408. In response to therow address PRA and the configuration information on bus 1120, selectlogic 4408 selects one of the segment addresses associated with the rowof CAM cells at row address PRA to generate the highest priority matchaddress MA for the entire array 1102. In Y×ZW mode, the row addressalone indicates the highest priority address with a matching entry, andselect logic 4408 provides PRA as MA. In other configurations, selectlogic 4408 outputs the row address as the most significant bits of MA,and the corresponding segment address as the least significant bit(s) ofMA.

FIG. 52 shows one embodiment of select logic 4408. Other embodiments maybe used. For this embodiment, select logic 4408 includes decoder 4414,multiplexer 4410, and translation logic 4412. Decoder 4414 decodes rowaddress PRA and provides the decoded row address as select signals tomultiplexer 4410. In response to the decoded row address, multiplexer4410 selects and outputs one of the segment addresses PSA(0)-PSA(Y-1)associated with the row of CAM cells at row address PRA. The row addressand the selected segment address together make up an internal matchaddress IMA. In Y×ZW mode, translation logic 4412 provides IMA as MA.For other configurations, however, not all of the segment address bitsare used (e.g., least significant bit SA0(0) in the ×144 bit mode forthe example of FIGS. 47-51), or none of the segment address bits areused (e.g., in ZY×W mode where only PRA is used to generate MA) as partof the match address MA. For these configurations, translation logic4412 translates or shifts the bits of IMA such that the match addressstarts at its least significant bit. For alternative embodiments, theunused least significant bits of MA may simply be ignored andtranslation logic 4412 omitted.

FIG. 53 shows multiplexer 5100 that is one embodiment of translationlogic 4412 of FIG. 52. Multiplexer 5100 receives the configurationsignals SZ1 and SZG(1)-SZG(n-1) to select and output one of the PRA/PSAconcatenations as the match address. In this embodiment, the matchaddress has q=log₂ZY address bits and multiplexer 5100 outputs one ofthe PRA/PSA concatenations such that the segment address bits start atthe least significant bit of the match address. Any un-used address bitsof the match address may be set, for example, to a logic zero state. Inthe Y×ZW mode, SZ1 is enabled and multiplexer 5100 selects PRA,PSA[p-1:0] to provide as MA[q-1:0], where p=log₂Z. In the ZY/2×2 W mode,SZG(1) is enabled and multiplexer 5100 selects PRA, PSA[p-1:1] toprovide as MA[q-2:0]. In the ZY/(Z-1)×(Z-1)W mode, SZG(n-1) is enabledand multiplexer 5100 selects PRA, PSA[p-1] to provide as MA[log₂Y:0].Finally, in the ZY×W mode, multiplexer 5100 provides PRA asMA[log₂Y-1:0]. For another embodiment, multiplexer 5100 may beimplemented in AND and OR logic gates such that each configurationsignals is logically ANDed with its corresponding PRA/PSA combination,and the outputs of the AND gates provided to OR logic to generate MA.

For another embodiment, translation logic 4412 may be a shift registerthat receives IMA and then uses the configuration information toindicate the number of times to shift out least significant bits (e.g.,divide by 2) from the shift register. For one embodiment, eachconfiguration is associated with a predetermined count value, and thecount is decremented for each shift until the count reaches zero. Otherembodiments may be used.

FIG. 54 shows priority encoder logic 5200 that is another embodiment ofpriority encoder logic 1112 of FIG. 13. Priority encoder logic 5200includes priority encoder (PE) interface circuits 5202(0)-5202(Y-1),priority encoder 5204, and translation logic 5206. Each interfacecircuit 5202(0)-5202(Y-1) receives the match results from each of thematch line segments M1-MZ of a corresponding row of CAM cells and, inresponse to the configuration information, generates Z priority encoderinput signals for priority encoder 5204. The Y interface circuitsgenerate a total of ZY input signals PE(0)-PE(ZY-1). Priority encoder5204 encodes the ZY priority encoder inputs signals and generates theinternal or intermediate match address IMA that has log₂ZY address bits.IMA corresponds to the address of the highest priority row of CAM cells1122 that has a row segment or a group of row segments that stores datathat matches the comparand data for a given configuration. In responseto the configuration information, translation logic 5206 outputs IMA ora bit translated version of IMA as the match address MA. For alternativeembodiments, IMA may be provided as MA and any unused least significantbits of MA may simply be ignored and translation logic 4212 omitted.

The operation of the priority encoder interface circuits is furtherillustrated by interface circuit 5300 of FIG. 55. Interface circuit 5300is one embodiment of interface circuit 5202(0) of FIG. 54 in which array1102 has Y=1024 rows of CAM cells each having Z=4 segments of W=72 CAMcells. Interface circuit 5300 may also be used for all interfacecircuits. Interface circuit 5300 includes AND gates 5306-5309 and ORgates 5310-5311. AND gates 5303-5306 each receive configuration signalSZ72 and one of M1-M4. AND gate 5303 provides PE(0), and AND gate 5305provides PE(2). AND gate 5307 receives M1, M2, and configuration signalSZ144. OR gate 5310 provides PE(1) in response to the outputs of ANDgates 5307 and 5303. AND gate 5308 receives M3, M4, and configurationsignal SZ144. AND gate 5309 receives M1-M4 and configuration signalSZ288. OR gate 5311 provides PE(3) in response to the outputs of ANDgates 5306, 5308, and 5309.

In the 4 k×72 mode, configuration signal SZ72 is enabled to allow ANDgates 5303-5306 and OR gate 5310 and 5311 to provide the logic states onM1-M4 to PE(0)-PE(3), respectively. In this mode all of the 4 kindividual row segments have unique addresses of zero to 4 k-1.

In the 2 k×144 mode, configuration signal SZ144 is enabled and the rowsegments are grouped into addressable pairs S1-S2 and S3-S4. In thismode, configuration signal SZ72 is disabled such that PE(0) and PE(2)are disabled. If the first pair S1-S2 stores data that matches comparanddata, then M1 and M2 are enabled and AND gate 5307 and OR gate 5310enable PE(1). Since S1-S2 is the first addressable group of rowsegments, it has the address zero in this configuration. However, whenPE(1) is enabled, priority encoder 5204 outputs an address of 1 as IMA.Translation logic 5206 translates or shifts the bit positions in IMA byone such that the least significant bit of IMA is dropped and MAreflects an address of 0 rather than 1. Similarly, if the second pairS3-S4 stores data that matches comparand data, then M3 and M are enabledand AND gate 5308 and OR gate 5311 enable PE(3). Since S3-S4 is thesecond addressable group of row segments, it has the address 1 in thisconfiguration. However, when PE(3) is enabled (and PE(1) is notenabled), priority encoder 5204 outputs an address of 2 as IMA.Translation logic 5206 translates or shifts the bit positions in IMA byone such that the least significant bit of IMA is dropped and MAreflects an address of 1 rather than 2.

Lastly, in the 1 k×288 mode, configuration signal SZ288 is enabled andthe row segments are all grouped together to form a single addressablerow. In this mode, configuration signals SZ72 and SZ144 are disabledsuch that PE(0)-PE(2) are disabled. If all row segments S1-S4 store datathat match 288-bit comparand data, then M1-M4 are enabled and AND gate5309 and OR gate 5311 enable PE(3). Since group S1-S4 is the first (andonly) addressable group of row segments, it has the address 0 in thisconfiguration. However, when PE(3) is enabled, priority encoder 5204outputs an address of 3 as IMA. Translation logic 5206 translates orshifts the bit positions in IMA by two such that the least significantbit of IMA is dropped and MA reflects an address of 0 rather than 3.

FIG. 56 summarizes the general function of each of the priority encoderinterface circuits 5202(0)-5204(Y-1). In configuration ZY×W, SZ1 isenabled and the PE inputs are set the logic states of theircorresponding match line segment. In this mode, translation logic 5206provides IMA as MA. In configuration ZY/2×2 W (i.e., n=2), SZG(1) isenabled and every second (nth) PE input is set to the correspondingfirst group match results. All other PE inputs are set to a mismatchstate, and translation logic 5206 translates or shifts the bit positionsin IMA by one place such that the least significant bit of IMA isdropped to generate MA. In configuration ZY/4×4 (i.e., n=4), SZG(1) isenabled and every fourth (nth) PE input is set to the correspondingsecond group match results. All other PE inputs are set to a mismatchstate, and translation logic 5206 translates or shifts the bit positionsin IMA by two places such that the two least significant bits of IMA aredropped to generate MA This process continues until in configurationY×ZW (i.e., n=Z), SZG(n-1) is enabled and every Zth (nth) PE input isset to the corresponding row group match results. All other PE inputsare set to a mismatch state, and translation logic 5206 translates orshifts the bit positions in IMA by (Z-1) places such that the (Z-1)least significant bits of IMA are dropped to generate MA. The logicshown in FIG. 55 may be extended to accommodate any number of rowsegments and any number of configurations. Alternatively, each priorityinterface circuit may be a multiplexer that uses the configurationsignals as select signals to select the match results from the matchline segments as shown in FIG. 56.

FIG. 57 shows multiplexer 5500 that is one embodiment of translationlogic 5206 of FIG. 54. Multiplexer 5500 receives the configurationsignals SZ1 and SZG(1)-SZG(n-1) to select and output one of the IMAaddress bit strings as the match address. In this embodiment, the matchaddress has q=log₂ZY address bits and multiplexer 5500 outputs one ofthe IMA bit strings starting at the least significant bit of the matchaddress. Any un-used address bits of the match address may be set to alogic zero state. In the Y×ZW mode, SZ1 is enabled and multiplexer 5500selects IMA[q-1:0] to provide as MA[q-1:0]. In the ZY/2×2 W mode, SZG(1)is enabled and multiplexer 5500 selects IMA[q-1:1] to provide asMA[q-2:0]. In the ZY/4×4 W mode, SZG(2) is enabled and multiplexer 5500selects IMA[q-1:2] to provide as MA[q-3:0]. Finally, in the ZY×W mode,multiplexer 5500 is enabled and multiplexer 5500 selects IMA[q-1:log₂Y]to provide as MA[log₂Y-1:0]. For another embodiment, multiplexer 5100may be implemented in AND and OR logic gates such that eachconfiguration signals is logically ANDed with its corresponding IMA bitstring, and the outputs of the AND gates provided to OR logic.

For another embodiment, translation logic 5206 may be a shift registerthat receives IMA and then uses the configuration information toindicate the number of times to shift out least significant bits (e.g.,divide by 2) from the shift register. For one embodiment, eachconfiguration is associated with a predetermined count value, and thecount is decremented for each shift until the count reaches zero. Otherembodiments may be used.

FIG. 58 shows one embodiment of the multiplexer 5500 configured for theexample of FIG. 55. In this embodiment, SZ72 selects IMA[11:0] to beprovided as MA[11:0]; SZ144 selects IMA[11:1] to be provided asMA[10:0]; and SZ288 selects IMA[11:2] to provided as MA[9:0]. Thisembodiment may also be used for translation logic 5100 of FIG. 53.

Partitionable CAM Device With Intra-Row Configurability

FIG. 59 illustrates an embodiment of a CAM device 5900 that includes aCAM array 5910 formed by independently selectable CAM blocks asdescribed in reference to FIGS. 1-12 and that has intra-rowconfigurability as described in reference to FIGS. 13-58. The CAM device5900 includes a CAM array 5910 formed by four independently selectable,configurable CAM blocks 5909(0)-5909(3) (more or fewer blocks may beprovided in alternative embodiments), four block flag circuits5914(0)-5914(3) and four block priority encoders 5912(0)-5912(3) thatcorrespond to the four configurable CAM blocks, a global priorityencoder 5918, a global flag circuit 5916, an instruction decoder 5904, ablock select circuit 5902 and an address circuit 5906. Instructions suchas read, write and compare instructions are issued to the CAM device5900 by a host processor (not shown) via an instruction bus 5901. In thecase of read and write instructions, the host processor may additionallyissue address values to the CAM device via address bus 5925 to specifylocations in the CAM array 5910 to be accessed. Other circuit paths notshown in FIG. 59 may also be coupled to the CAM device 5900, includingwithout limitation a comparand bus to provide host-supplied comparandvalues to the CAM device 5900, and a status bus to permit statusinformation to be output from the CAM device 5900. Also, the CAM device5900 may include numerous additional circuit blocks not shown in FIG. 59including, without limitation, a comparand register, global maskregister, configuration register, status register, read/write circuit,and error checking circuit.

The instruction decoder 5904 responds to instructions received via theinstruction bus 5901 by outputting timing and control signals to othercircuit blocks within the CAM device 5900 to perform the specifiedoperation. In one embodiment, incoming instructions may include a classcode to specify a storage partition within the CAM array (i.e., one ormore blocks and/or portions of blocks within the CAM array) to which theinstruction is directed. The class code may be part of an operation codeof the instruction (e.g., encoded in the operation code), part of anoperand associated with the instruction or a distinct operand associatedwith the instruction. Further, the different portions of a giveninstruction (e.g., operation code, class code, other operands, etc.) maybe received at different times, for example, in distinct transmissionsor in packet-based transmissions. Also, class-based instructions may beexecuted according to a previously received class code. For example, aclass code specifying a first storage partition of the CAM array may besent to the CAM device. Thereafter, class-based compare, read and writeinstructions, though themselves not specifying a particular class, causecorresponding compare, read and write operations to be performed on thefirst storage partition of the CAM array until a different class code isissued to the CAM device 5900.

In one embodiment, each class code corresponds to a width/depthconfiguration of a CAM block so that the number of different class codesis determined by the number of permitted width/depth configurations. Inan alternative embodiments, different class codes may be assignedaccording to other criteria including, without limitation, the type ofdata stored within the corresponding storage partition (e.g., ATM, IPv4,IPv4 multicast, Ethernet, URL, MPLS, etc.); the type or purpose of theoperation to be performed on the data stored within the correspondingstorage partition (e.g., one class of storage partition may be used todetermine forwarding addresses, while another class of storage partitionmay be used for classification purposes), or by any combination of datatype, storage configuration, or operation type/purpose. Referring to CAMdevice 5900, for example, IPv4 values may be stored in CAM block 5909(0)and MPLS values in CAM block 5909(1). By assigning different class codesto the IPv4 and MPLS values, it becomes possible to perform operations(e.g., compare, write, read) on the specific CAM blocks containing thosevalues, regardless of whether those CAM blocks have the same ordifferent width/depth configurations. In general, any criterion fordistinguishing between storage partitions may be used without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 59, the instruction decoder outputs the classcode 5907 to the block select circuit 5902 which, in response, outputsblock select signals 5905(0)-5905(3) and block configuration signals5903(0)-5903(3) to the CAM array 5910. The block select signals 5905 areused in the manner described in reference to FIGS. 1-12 to either selector not select the corresponding CAM block 5909 to participate in acompare operation. In one embodiment, the block configuration signals5903 correspond to the configuration signals described in reference toFIGS. 13-58 and are supplied to the block priority encoders 5912 and theblock flag circuits 5914 to specify the width and depth of the array forblock flag and block index generation purposes. Each of the block flagcircuits 5914(0)-5914(3) outputs one or more respective block flagsignals 5915(0)-5915(3) to the global flag circuit 5916 and the globalpriority encoder 5918. Each of the block priority encoding circuits5912(0)-5912(3) outputs a respective block index 5917(0)-5917(3) to theglobal priority encoder 5918. The global flag circuit 5916 generates oneor more device flag signals 5922 and the global priority encodergenerates a device index 5920. As discussed below, each of the blockflag circuits 5914(0)-5914(3) may also output a block multiple matchflag signal (not shown) to the global flag circuit 5916, which in turnoutputs a device multiple match flag signal 5924.

Still referring to FIG. 59, the class code 5907 is also supplied to theaddress circuit 5906 along with a control signal 5913 and a selectsignal 5911. As discussed below, the address circuit 5906 may includeregister banks for maintaining class-based addresses which are used toaccess the CAM array 5910 in response to certain read and writeinstructions. In alternative embodiments, the class code 5907 may besupplied directly to the block select circuit 5902 and/or the addresscircuit 5906 directly from the instruction bus 5901. The address circuit5906 may also include the address logic 701 of FIG. 7 and/or the addresslogic 1104 of FIG. 13. Further, the block select circuit 5902 mayinclude a number of separate select circuits such as select circuits106(1)-106(n) of FIG. 1, wherein each select circuit is configured tostore a class code for its corresponding CAM block.

FIG. 60 illustrates the block select circuit 5902, according to oneembodiment, in which the block select circuit 5902 includes a separatesubcircuit 6004(0)-6004(3) for each block of the CAM array. Each of thesubcircuits 6004(0)-6004(3) (corresponding, for example, to selectcircuits 106(1)-106(4) of FIG. 1) includes a block configurationregister 6002(0)-6002(3) (e.g. such as memory 302 of FIG. 3), acomparator circuit 6006 (e.g., such as compare circuit 304 of FIG. 3),and a gating circuit 6008. The block configuration registers6002(0)-6002(3) may be distinct registers or respective portions of asingle register, such as configuration register 1118 of FIG. 13. Eachcomparator circuit 6006 is coupled to receive a block configurationsignal from the corresponding block configuration register 6002 and theclass code 5907 from the instruction decoder (or, alternatively,directly from the instruction bus). The comparator circuits 6006 eachinclude circuitry to compare the incoming class code 5907 with thecontent of the corresponding block configuration register 6002 togenerate a block select signal 5905(0)-5905(3) (e.g., such as the selectsignals SEL_1 to SEL_n of FIG. 1). If the class code 5907 matches thecontent of the corresponding block configuration register 6002, thecomparator circuit 6006 asserts the block select signal 5905.Conversely, if the class code 5907 does not match the content of thecorresponding block configuration register 6002, the comparator circuit6006 deasserts the block select signal 5905.

Each of the gating circuits 6008 is coupled to receive a respectiveblock select signal 5905 from the corresponding comparator circuit 6006and a respective block configuration signal from the corresponding blockconfiguration register 6002. Each gating circuit 6008 includes logic tooutput a respective one of the block configuration signals5903(0)-5903(3) if the corresponding block select signal 5905 isasserted. If the corresponding block select signal 5909 is not asserted,the block configuration signal 5903 is masked, for example, by forcingall component signals (not shown in FIG. 60) of the block configurationsignal 5903 to a reset state. In alternative embodiments, the gatingcircuits 6008 are omitted so that the block configuration signals5903(0)-5903(3) are output to the block priority encoders and block flagcircuits regardless of the state of the corresponding block selectsignals 5905(0)-5905(3).

FIG. 61 illustrates a gating circuit 6008 according to one embodiment.As shown, each component bit of a block configuration value storedwithin the block configuration register 6002 is input to a respectiveAND logic gate 6102 where it is logically ANDed with a block selectsignal 5905. Accordingly, if the block select signal 5905 is asserted(indicating that the corresponding CAM block is selected to participatein the instructed operation), each of the component signals of the blockconfiguration signal 5903 is output by the gating logic 6008.Conversely, if the block select signal 5905 is deasserted, the componentsignals of the block configuration signal 5903 are forced to a resetstate.

FIG. 62 illustrates a block flag circuit 5914 according to oneembodiment. The block flag circuit 5914 includes a number of row flagcircuits 6202(0)-6202(Y-1) each coupled to receive match signalsM₁-M_(Z) and validity signals V₁-V_(Z) from a respective row6222(0)-6222(Y-1) of a CAM block 5909. The validity signals representthe state of validity values stored within the CAM block 5909. Eachvalidity value, which may include one or more bits, corresponds to oneof the row segments within rows 6222(0)-6222(Y-1) of the CAM block 5909and indicates whether the row segment contains a valid CAM word.Alternatively, groups of row segments may share one or more validitysignals.

An operation select signal 6208, preferably generated by the instructiondecoder, and the block configuration signal 5903 are input to each rowflag circuit 6202. As discussed below, the operation select signal 6208is used to select which set of input signals (i.e., match signalsM₁-M_(Z) or validity signals V₁-V_(Z)) are to be operated upon by logiccircuits within the row flag circuit 6202. In one embodiment, the blockconfiguration signal 5903 is used to select one or more of the logiccircuits to output a row flag signal 6207 from the row flag circuitaccording to width/depth configuration of the CAM block.

The row flag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1) output by the row flag circuits6202(0)-6202(Y-1) are input to block flag logic 6204 which, in turn,generates a block flag signal 5915. In one embodiment, tie block flaglogic 6204 is an OR logic gate that asserts the block flag signal 5915if any of the row flag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1) are asserted. Thus, inthe case of a compare operation, assertion of a row flag signal 6207 byany of the row flag circuits 6202(0)-6202(Y-1), thereby indicating amatch between the content stored within the corresponding CAM row andthe comparand, will result in assertion of a match signal (i.e., blockflag signal 5915) for the CAM block 5909. Similarly, in the case of awrite operation, assertion of a row flag signal 6207 by any of the rowflag circuits 6202(0)-6202(Y-1), thereby indicating a not-full row, willresult in assertion of a not-full signal (i.e., block flag signal 5915)for the CAM block 5909. When deasserted, the not-full signal indicatesthat the block is full and may therefore be viewed as a full flag. Asdiscussed below, in an embodiment in which the block configurationsignal 5903 is gated by the block select signal 5915, logic within therow flag circuits 6202 prevents assertion of row flag signals in theevent the corresponding CAM block is not selected to participate in theinstructed operation (e.g., a write operation or compare operation).Consequently, if the CAM block 5905 is not selected to participate in anoperation, none of the row flag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1) will beasserted regardless of whether the content of a given row6222(0)-6222(Y-1) (or portion thereof) matches the comparand andregardless of whether one or more of the rows 6222(0)-6222(Y-1) are notfull. By contrast, in an embodiment in which the block configurationsignal 5903 is not gated by the block select signal 5905, the row flagcircuits 6202(0)-6202(Y-1) may assert one or more of row flag signals6207(0)-6207(Y-1) despite the fact that the corresponding CAM block 5909is not selected. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, it may be desirableto input the block select signal 5905 to the block flag circuit 6204 toprevent assertion of the block flag signal 5915 if the block is notselected to participate in a given operation. This is illustrated bydashed line 6209 in FIG. 62. Alternatively, the block select signal maybe supplied to each of the row flag circuits 6202(0)-6202(Y-1) to gatethe individual row flag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1).

FIG. 63 illustrates a row flag circuit 6202 from FIG. 62 in greaterdetail. The row flag circuit 6202 receives the match flag signalsM₁-M_(Z) and validity signals V₁-V_(Z) from segments S₁-S_(Z),respectively, of a row 6222 within a CAM block. In one embodiment, thematch signals are active high such that a logic ‘1’ indicates that thecorresponding segment of the row 6222 matches the comparand (or portionthereof), and the validity signals are active low such that a logic ‘1’indicates that the corresponding segment of the row 6222 is not loadedwith a valid CAM word. From one perspective, the validity signals may beconsidered to be not full signals and may be used to determine whetherthe row 6222 itself is full or not.

Still referring to FIG. 63, the operation select signal 6208 is appliedto the select input of each of multiplexers 6308(0)-6308(n-1) to selecteither the validity signals or the match signals to be output as a setof flag signals F₁-F_(Z) to a corresponding one of n flag logiccircuits, including a flag one logic circuit 6302 and group flag logiccircuits 6304(1)-6304(n-1). In an alternative embodiment, a singlemultiplexer could be used to select between the match signals and thevalidity signals, with the output flag signals F1-FZ fanning out to eachof the logic circuits 6302 and 6304(1)-6304(n-1). By viewing themultiplexers 6308(0)-6308(N-1) as separate from the remaining circuitswithin the row flag circuit 6202, it will be appreciated that the rowflag circuit 6202 may be implemented in same manner as either the matchflag logic 2400 of FIG. 26 or the match flag logic 3000 of FIG. 32.Referring more specifically to the match flag logic 2400 of FIG. 26, theflag one logic circuit 6202 may be implemented in the same manner as thematch one logic circuit 2502 of FIG. 27 (i.e., as described in referenceto FIG. 28) and each of the group flag logic circuits 6304(1)-6304(n-1)may be implemented in the same manner as group match logic circuits2504(1)-2504(n-1), respectively (i.e., as described in reference toFIGS. 29A, 29B, 29C). Also, the output of each of the flag logiccircuits, signals 6307(0)-6307(n-1), are input to a row configurationlogic 6306 that may be implemented in the same manner as the matchconfiguration logic 2506 of FIG. 27. That is, row configuration logic6306 may include circuitry responsive to the component signals of theblock configuration signal CFG (i.e., component signals SZ1 andSZG(1)-SZG(n-1)) and the flag signals 6307(0)-6307(n-1) to generate arow flag signal 6207 that corresponds to the row match signal MR0 outputby the match configuration logic 2506. More specifically, rowconfiguration logic 6306 may be implemented, for example, as shown inFIGS. 30 and 31, substituting signal 6307(0) (i.e., FONE) for MONE andsignals 6307(1)-6307(n-1) (i.e., FG(1)-FG(n-1)) for MG(1)-MG(n-1),respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the row configuration logicmay be omitted and the flag signals 6307(0)-6307(N-1) provided to ablock flag circuit that is implemented in the same manner as the arraymatch circuit 2404 of FIG. 32. That is, the flag signals6307(0)-6307(n-1) may be provided to a block match circuit that isimplemented in the same manner as array match circuit 3004 (i.e., asdescribed in various embodiments in reference to FIGS. 33-37), the blockmatch circuit outputting a block flag signal (e.g., signal 5915 of FIG.59) rather than the array match flag.

Referring to FIGS. 59, 62 and 63, when the operation select signal 6208signal is in a first logic state, the flag signals F1-FZ correspond tothe match signals M1-MZ from each row 6222. The flag signals can be usedin this mode to signal match or multiple match conditions for a givenCAM block and class code. For example, when the match signals indicatethat any of the row segments (or groups thereof) match a comparandvalue, the row flag signal 6207 for the row will indicate a matchcondition. If any of the row flag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1) indicate amatch condition, the corresponding block flag circuit 6204 will indicatea block match condition for the CAM block and class code by assertingthe block flag signal 5915. If a block match condition is indicated forany of the blocks with the same class code, then the global flag circuit5916 will indicate a match condition by asserting the device flag signal5922. By this arrangement, compare operations may be performed, andmatch (and multiple match) conditions signaled, on a class-by-classbasis according to the incoming class code.

When the operation select signal 6208 is in a second logic state, theflag signals F1-FZ correspond to the validity signals V1-VZ from eachrow 6222. The flag signals can be used in this mode to signal a not-full(or full) condition for a given block and class code. For example, whenall the validity signals indicate that all the row segments (or groupsthereof) have valid, stored entries, the row flag signal 6207 for therow will indicate a full condition. If all the row flag signals6207(0)-6207(Y-1) indicate full conditions for a given CAM block andclass code, the corresponding block flag circuit 6204 will indicate ablock full condition by deasserting the block flag signal 5915. If allthe blocks with the same class code are indicated to be full, then theglobal flag circuit 5916 will indicate a full condition by deassertingthe device flag signal 5922. Accordingly, a full/not-full condition maybe signaled on a class-by class basis according to the incoming classcode. Note that any or all of the signals used to indicate a row, blockor device full condition or match condition may have different logicstates in alternative embodiments.

FIGS. 64 and 65 illustrate alternative embodiments of block flag logicin which the block select signal 5905 is used to gate assertion of theblock flag signal 5915. In the embodiment of FIG. 64, each of the rowflag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1) is logically ORed in OR gate 6402 toproduce signal 6403. Signal 6403 is then logically ANDed with the blockselect signal 5905 in AND gate 6404 to produce the block flag signal5915. In the embodiment of FIG. 65, each of the row flag signals6207(0)-6207(Y-1) is logically ANDed with the block select signal 5905in a respective AND gate 6502(0)-6502(Y-1) to produce signals6503(0)-6503(Y-1). Signals 6503(0)-6503(Y-1) are then logically ORed inOR gate 6504 to produce the block flag signal. Regardless of whether theembodiment of FIG. 64 or the embodiment of 65 is used to implement theblock flag logic 6204, deassertion of the block select signal 5905prevents assertion of the block flag signal 5915. Also, in alternativeembodiments, no validity values may be stored in the CAM blocks and thelogic within the block flag and global flag circuits for generating thenot-full signal (i.e., complement of full flag) may be omitted. Notethat while the block flag circuit has been described in terms ofcircuitry that may generate either a not-full signal (full flagcomplement) or a match flag signal, separate circuitry may be providedto generate the not-full signal and match flag signal in alternativeembodiments. Similarly, the global flag circuit may include separatecircuits for generating separate device-level match flag and not-fullsignals.

FIG. 66 illustrates a block priority encoder 5912 according to oneembodiment. The block priority encoder 5912 includes row flag circuits6602(0)-6602(Y-1) and row priority encoders 6604(0)-6604(Y-1) that areeach coupled to receive match signals M₁-M_(Z) and validity signalsV₁-V_(Z) from a respective row 6222(0)-6222(Y-1) of a CAM block 5909. Inone embodiment, a multiplexer within each row flag circuit and each rowpriority encoder is used to select between the match signals andvalidity signals according to the operation select signal 6208. In analternative embodiment, a single multiplexer may be used to selectbetween the match signals and validity signals for a given row of theCAM block 5909, with the output of the multiplexer being supplied toboth the row flag circuit 6602 and the row priority encoder 6604. Theblock configuration signal 5903 is supplied to each row flag circuit6602 and each row priority encoder 6604 for use in generating row flagsignals 6607(0)-6607(Y-1) and segment addresses 6609(0)-6609(Y-1),respectively. The row flags signals are input to a main priority encoder6606 which, in turn, generates a row address 6611. The row address 6611and segment addresses 6609(0)-6609(Y-1) are input to select logic 6608which generates the block index signal 5917.

In one embodiment, each of the row flag circuits 6602(0)-6602(Y-1) isthe same circuit described in reference to FIG. 62. That is, the rowflag circuit 6202 of FIG. 62 outputs the row flag signal 6207 to theblock flag logic (element 6204 of FIG. 62) and also to the main priorityencoder 6606. Moreover, the flag signals F₁-F_(Z) output by themultiplexers 6308(0)-6308(Y-1) (or a single multiplexer) within the rowflag circuit 6202 may be supplied to the row priority encoder 6604 forthe corresponding row so that no separate multiplexer is needed toselect the signals input to the row priority encoder 6604.

In one embodiment, each row priority encoder 6604(0)-6604(Y-1) includescircuitry to operate on the input flag signals (i.e., either the matchsignals or the validity signals according to the state of the operationselect signal 6208) to generate the segment address signalsPSA0-PSA(Y-1) in the manner described above in reference to FIGS. 46-51.Main priority encoder 6606 preferably operates in the same manner asmain priority encoder 4406 described above in reference to FIG. 46. Morespecifically, main priority encoder 6606 monitors the row flag signals6607(0)-6607(Y-1) to generate a row address signal 6611 having log₂Yaddress bits that, in the case of a compare operation, correspond to theaddress of the highest priority row of the CAM block 5909 having a rowsegment (or group of row segments) that matches a comparand (e.g., inresponse to the match signals M1-MZ from each row). In the case of awrite operation, the row address signal 6611 corresponds to the addressof the highest priority row of the CAM block 5909 that has a row segment(or group of row segments) that is not full (e.g., in response to thevalidity signals V1-VZ from each row).

In one embodiment, the select logic 6608 is designed to operate in thesame manner as the select logic 4408 of FIGS. 46 and 52, describedabove. That is, in response to the row address 6611 and blockconfiguration signal 5903, the select logic 6608 selects one of thesegment addresses 6609(0)-6609(Y-1) associated with the row of CAM cellsspecified by the row address 6611 to generate the block index signal5917.

Still referring to FIG. 66, the block priority encoder 5912 is anembodiment that corresponds to the priority encoder logic 4400 of FIGS.46-53. The block priority encoder 5912 may alternatively be implementedin a manner corresponding to the priority encoder logic 5200 of FIG. 54.

FIG. 67 illustrates an embodiment of the global priority encoder 5918 ofFIG. 59. A multiplexer 6702 having ports P0-P(n-1) receives a selectsignal 6705 from a block index select circuit 6704 that selects one ofthe block indexes 5917(0)-5917(n-1) and a corresponding block identifier6707(0)-6707(n-1) to be output as the device index 5920. As discussedabove, the block index is alternatively indicative of a match address ora not-full address (also called a free address) according to whether acompare or write operation is being performed. Accordingly, the deviceindex indicates a highest priority match address during a compareoperation and indicates a highest priority not-full address (i.e., a“next free address”) during a write operation.

In one embodiment, the block identifiers 6707(0)-6707(n-1) are hardwiredto a binary code. For example, for the four block CAM array of FIG. 59,the block identifiers may be hard wired as follows:

-   -   BLOCK 0 ID: 00    -   BLOCK 1 ID: 01    -   BLOCK 2 ID: 10    -   BLOCK 3 ID: 11        Other block identifier codes may be used in alternative        embodiments, including programmable codes to allow block IDs to        be programmed at device power up or as part of factory testing        (e.g., fuses may be blown to set block IDs to bypass a defective        block).

Still referring to FIG. 67, the block flag signals 5915(0)-5915(n-1) areinput to the block index select circuit to generate the select signal6705. In one embodiment, the block index select circuit includes logiccircuitry to identify a highest priority block flag signal from amongthe asserted block flag signals, and to output a binary code thatcorresponds to the identified block flag signal. In one implementation,block priorities are hard wired such that the block flag signalcorresponding to the lowest numbered block of the CAM array isidentified as the highest priority block flag signal. For example, ifblock flag signals 5915(1) and 5915(n-1) are asserted during a givenoperation, but no others, then block flag signal 5915(1) would beselected as the highest priority block flag signal and a binary code 01output as select signal 6705 to select port P1 of the multiplexer 6702to drive the device index 5920.

In an alternative embodiment of the global priority encoder, the blockidentifier values may be omitted and the select signal 6705 may insteadbe used to supply the block identifier portion of the device index 5920.

As discussed above in reference to FIG. 59, each of the block flagcircuits 5914 may also include circuitry to generate a block multiplematch flag signal. In one embodiment, each of the block flag circuits5914 includes the array multiple match circuit 3606 of FIG. 38 and therow multiple match circuits 3604(0)-3604(Y-1) of FIG. 38. Each rowmultiple match circuit preferably includes logic circuits to generate,for a corresponding row of the CAM block, a MMONES signal indicative ofmatches between a comparand and two or more individual segments of therow, and group match signals MMG(1)-MMG(n-2) indicative of matchesbetween a comparand and two or more groups of segments within the row.Such logic circuits are described, for example, in reference to FIGS.40-42C. As described in reference to FIG. 44, the MMONES signal andgroup match signals MMG(1)-MMG(n-2) may be logically ANDed withrespective configuration signals SZ1 and SZG(1)-SZG(n-2) to produce arow multiple match signal MMRX. In an embodiment in which the blockselect signal is used to gate the block configuration signal, the rowmultiple match configuration logic of FIG. 44 may be used within each ofthe block flag circuits 5914 of FIG. 59 to generate a row multiple matchsignal. If the block select signal is not asserted for a givenoperation, none of the component signals of the block configurationsignal will be asserted (i.e., SZ1 and SZG(1)-SZG(n-2) will all bereset) so that no row multiple match signal will be generated.

FIG. 68 shows an alternative implementation of the row multiple matchconfiguration logic (i.e., element 3706 of FIG. 39) that may be usedwithin the block flag circuits 5914 of FIG. 59 in embodiments in whichthe block select signal 5905 is not used to gate the corresponding blockconfiguration signal 5903. The row multiple match configuration logic ofFIG. 68 is similar to the row multiple match configuration logic of FIG.44 in that AND logic gates 6802 and 6804(1)-6804(n-2) are used,respectively, to determine whether the MMONES signal or one of the groupmultiple match signals MMG(1)-MMG(n-2) is enabled by a correspondingcomponent of the block configuration signal (i.e., SZ1 andSZG(1)-SZG(n-1)) to assert a signal to an OR logic gate 6806. Instead ofdriving the row multiple match signal 6809 directly with the output ofthe OR logic gate 6806, however, the output of OR logic gate 6806 isinput to an AND logic gate 6808 where it is gated by the block selectsignal 5905. Accordingly, when the block select signal 5905 is asserted,the output of the OR logic gate 6806 is used to drive the row multiplematch signal 6809. When the block select signal 5905 is deasserted, theAND logic gate 6808 forces the row multiple match signal 6809 to adeasserted state, regardless of the output state of the OR logic gate6806. In alternative embodiments, the block select signal 5905 may beapplied elsewhere in within the row multiple match configuration logicto prevent assertion of the row multiple match signal 6809. For example,the block select signal 5905 may be input to each of the AND logic gates6802 along with the component signals of the block configuration signal(i.e., SZ1 and SZG(1)-SZG(n-2)).

FIG. 69 illustrates an embodiment of a block multiple match circuit 6900that may be used within each of the block flag circuits 5914 to generatea block multiple match flag 6909. In one embodiment, the block multiplematch circuit 6900 is implemented in the same manner as the arraymultiple match logic 4300 of FIG. 45. That is, the row flag signals6207(0)-6207(Y-1) are input to multiple match circuit 6902 which assertsan inter-row multiple match signal 6903 when a match is signaled in morethan one row segment (or more than one group of row segments) indifferent rows of a CAM block. The inter-row multiple match signal 6903is input to a logic OR circuit 6904 along with the row multiple matchsignals 6809(0)-6809(Y-1). Accordingly, the block multiple match flag6909 will be asserted if the inter-row multiple match signal 6903 or anyof the row multiple match signals 6809(0)-6809(Y-1) is asserted.

FIG. 70 illustrates an embodiment of a global flag circuit 5916 of FIG.59. The global flag circuit 5916 includes a global multiple matchcircuit formed by multiple match circuit 7002 and OR logic gate 7004, aswell as a device flag generator formed by OR logic gate 7006. Each ofthe block flag signals 5915(0)-5915(n-1) is input to the OR logic gate7006 which, accordingly, asserts the device flag signal 5922 wheneverone or more of the block flag signals 5915(0)-5915(n-1) is asserted.

The global multiple match circuit 5916 formed by multiple match circuit7002 and OR logic gate 7004 operates on the block flag signals5915(0)-5915(n-1) and the block multiple match flag signals6909(0)-6909(n-1) in the same manner as the block multiple match circuit6900 of FIG. 69 operates on the row flag signals and the row multiplematch signals. That is, the individual block flag signals5915(0)-5915(Y-1) are input to multiple match circuit 7002 which assertsan inter-block multiple match signal 7003 when there is a match in morethan one block of the CAM array. The inter-block multiple match signal7003 is input to the logic OR circuit 7004 along with the block multiplematch signals 6909(0)-6909(n-1). Accordingly, the device multiple matchflag 5924 is asserted if the inter-block multiple match signal 7003 orany of the block multiple match signals 6909(0)-6909(n-1) is asserted.

As discussed above in reference to FIGS. 59, 62 and 63, when theoperation select signal 6208 signal is in a first logic state, the flagsignals F1-FZ correspond to the match signals M1-MZ from each row 6222and can be used to signal match and multiple match conditions for agiven CAM block and class code. Referring to FIGS. 59, 62, 63 and 68-70,for example, when the match signals indicate that any two or more of therow segments (or groups thereof) match a comparand value, the rowmultiple match signal 6809 for the row will indicate a multiple matchcondition. If any two or more of the row flag signals 6207(0)-6207(Y-1)indicate a match condition or if any of the row multiple match signals6809 indicate a multiple match condition, the corresponding blockmultiple match circuit 6900 will indicate a block multiple matchcondition for the CAM block and class code by asserting the blockmultiple match signal 6909. If a block multiple match condition isindicated for any of the CAM blocks with the same class code or if anytwo or more of the CAM blocks with the same class code indicate a matchcondition, then the global multiple match circuit 5916 will indicate amultiple match condition by asserting the device flag signal 5922. Bythis arrangement multiple match conditions may be signaled on aclass-by-class basis according to the incoming class code.

In an alternative embodiment, no device multiple match flag is generatedand the circuitry to generate the row, block and device level multiplematch signals may be omitted. Also, dedicated multiple match circuitry,separate from the row, block and global flag circuits, may be used inalternative embodiments.

As mentioned above in reference to FIG. 59, the address circuit 5906 mayinclude register banks for maintaining class-based addresses to accessthe CAM array in response to certain read and write instructions. Forexample, in one embodiment, the address circuit 5906 maintains a bank ofhighest-priority-match (HPM) registers to store the device indexes thatresult from class-based compare operations. For example, if the blocksof the CAM array are partitioned into three classes of storage, A, B andC, then the device index that results from a compare operation in theclass A storage (i.e., a class A compare) may be stored in a register ofthe HPM register bank that corresponds to class A. Similarly, the deviceindex that results from a class B compare may be stored in a register ofthe HPM register bank that corresponds to class B and a device indexthat results from a class C compare may be stored in a register of theHPM register bank that corresponds to class C. By this arrangement, readoperations which reference the highest priority match addresses on aclass basis may be supported. For example, if a host processor performsa sequence of compare operations at classes A, B and C, then desires toread the contents of the highest priority match address for a givenclass, the host processor may issue a read instruction referencing theHPM register for the class (referred to as a READ@HPM@CLASSinstruction). The appropriate HPM register within the HPM register bankwill then be selected to provide the address for the read operation.

Still referring to FIG. 59, the address circuit 5906 may also maintain aclass-based register bank called a next-fee-address (NFA) register bankto store the highest priority free (i.e., not-full) address within theCAM array on a class basis. To further the example of a CAM arraypartitioned into storage classes A, B and C, if the host processorperforms a write operation to class A, the device index will representthe highest priority address within class A that is not already filledwith a valid CAM word; that is, the next free address for class A.Accordingly, separate registers within the NFA register bank may be usedto store the next free address for classes A, B, C and so forth. Later,when the processor issues an instruction to write a value into the CAMarray at the next free address for a given class (i.e., aWRITE@NFA@CLASS instruction), the NFA register for that class within theNFA register bank may be selected to provide the address for the writeoperation.

FIG. 71 illustrates the address circuit 5906 of FIG. 59 according to oneembodiment. A NFA register bank 7102 contains a plurality of NFAregisters, NFA0-NFA(m-1), and a HPM register bank 7104 contains aplurality of HPM registers, MPM0-HPM(m-1). Each NFA register is coupledto the global priority encoder to receive the device index 5920 and alsoto a load control circuit (not shown) to receive a respective one ofregister load signals LDNFA0-LDNFA(m-1). Each HPM register is similarlycoupled to receive the device index from the global priority encoder andto receive a respective one of the register load signalsLDHPM0-LDHPM(m-1). Although not shown in FIG. 71, the load controlcircuit is preferably implemented within the address circuit 5906 andgenerates the register load signals LDNFA0-LDNFA(m-1) andLDHPM0-LDHMP(m-1) in response to signals from the instruction decoderand the device flag. The operation of the load control circuit isdiscussed in greater detail below.

Each of the NFA registers within the NFA register bank 7102 is coupledto a respective input port of a NFA multiplexer 7106. The NFAmultiplexer 7106 is responsive to the class code to select the contentof one of the NFA registers to be input to an address selector 7110.Similarly, each of the HPM registers within the HPM register bank 7104is coupled to a respective input port of a HPM multiplexer 7108 whichselects, in response to the class code, the content of one of the HPMregisters to be input to the address selector 7110. The address bus 5925is also coupled to an input port of the address selector 7110 to allowselection of host-supplied addresses in certain read and writeoperations. In alternative embodiments, additional address sources maybe input to the address selector 7110.

When an instruction is received indicating write access to a next freelocation of a class, the class code portion of the instruction 5907, ifany, is used to select one of the NFA registers and one of the HPMregisters to supply a next free address and a highest priority matchaddress, respectively, to the address selector 7110. The select signal5911 indicates the nature of the operation to be performed and, in thecase of a read or write access to the CAM array, is used within theaddress selector 7110 to select the appropriate address source. Forexample, in the case of a WRITE@NFA@CLASS instruction, the class code5907 selects the content of one of the NFA registers within the NFAregister bank 7102 to be input to the address selector 7110 and theselect signal 5911 selects the NFA register to supply the next freeaddress for the selected class to the address logic 7112. The addresslogic 7112 decodes the input address to activate a corresponding wordline within a block of the CAM array. Similarly, in the case of aREAD@HPM@CLASS instruction, the class code 5907 selects the content ofone of the HPM registers within the HPM register bank 7104 to be inputto the address selector 7110, and the select signal 5911 selects the HPMregister to supply the highest priority match address for the selectedclass to the address logic 7112.

FIG. 72 illustrates a load control circuit 7200 that may be providedwithin the address circuit 5906 to generate the HPM register loadsignals LDHPM0-LDHPM(m-1) and NFA register load signalsLDNFA0-LDNFA(m-1). In the embodiment of FIG. 72, the load controlcircuit 7200 receives the select signal 5911, control signal 5913 andclass code 5907 from the instruction decoder, and the device flag 5922from the global flag circuit. As mentioned above, in alternativeembodiments any or all of the select signal 5911, control signal 5913,and class code 5907 may be received directly from the instruction businstead of from the instruction decoder. In one embodiment, the selectsignal 5911 contains a separate component signals, SEL_NFA and SEL_HPM,to select a register within either the NFA register bank or the HPMregister bank, respectively, to be loaded with a new address. Also, inan exemplary embodiment, the CAM device has four CAM blocks eachassigned to one of three different classes according to their intra-rowconfiguration. For example, a CAM block is assigned to a first, secondor third class according to whether it is configured to have a 72-bitwide, 144-bit wide or 288-bit wide CAM word, respectively. These classassignments may be specified by component signals SZ72, SZ144 and SZ288of the block configuration signal stored for each CAM block. In such anembodiment, the load control circuit 7200 may generate NFA and HPMregister load signals according to the following table: DEVICE AssertLoad SEL CC CTRL FLAG Signal: X X X 0 NONE X X 0 X NONE SEL_NFA SZ72 1 1LDNFA0 SEL_NFA SZ144 1 1 LDNFA1 SEL_NFA SZ288 1 1 LDNFA2 SEL_HPM SZ72 11 LDHPM0 SEL_HPM SZ144 1 1 LDHPM1 SEL_HPM SZ288 1 1 LDHPM2

As shown, [the ]when the control signal is deasserted, no register loadsignal is asserted. Thus, when an incoming instruction specifies anoperation (e.g., a read operation) that does not produce a device index,the instruction decoder may deassert the control signal to prevent theHPM and NFA register banks from being loaded. Also, no register loadsignal is asserted when the device flag signal is deasserted. Recallingthat the device flag signal is asserted when a match is detected duringa compare operation or when a storage partition includes at least oneunfilled storage location after a write operation, a non-asserted deviceflag conversely indicates that no match was found in the compareoperation or that the storage partition is full after the writeoperation. In either event, the device index does not represent a validaddress within the CAM array (i.e., neither a match address nor anot-full address) when the device flag is deasserted. Accordingly, noregister load signal is asserted when the device flag is not asserted.

In alternative embodiments, a register load operation to register bank7102 or 7104 may be performed regardless of the state of the deviceflag. Also, the number of registers within each of the register banks7102 and 7104 of FIG. 72 is shown to be ‘m,’ where m is an integernumber representative of the maximum number of storage classes. In oneembodiment, each storage class corresponds to a width/depthconfiguration of a CAM block so that the number of storage classes isdetermined by the number of permitted width/depth configurations. In analternative embodiments, storage classes may be defined by othercriteria including, without limitation, the type of data stored withinthe corresponding storage partition (e.g., ATM, IPv4, IPv4 multicast,Ethernet, URL, MPLS, etc.); the type or purpose of the operation to beperformed on the data stored within the corresponding storage partition(e.g., one class of storage partition may store data to be used incompare operations to determine forwarding addresses, while anotherclass of storage partition may store data to be used in compareoperations for classification purposes), or by any combination of datatype, storage configuration, or operation type/purpose. More generally,any criterion for distinguishing between storage partitions may be usedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

FIG. 73 illustrates an exemplary operation of the instruction decoder5904 of FIG. 59 in response to an instruction to write to the next freeaddress of a class-based partition of the CAM array (i.e., aWRITE@NFA@CLASS instruction). In block 7301, the instruction decoderissues the appropriate select and class code signals to the addresscircuit (e.g., element 5906 of FIG. 59) to select the NFA register forthe specified class code to source the address for a write access to theCAM array. A first predetermined time later, in block 7303, theinstruction decoder signals a write circuit within the CAM device (notshown in FIG. 59) to write data into the CAM array location selected bythe address circuit. After a second predetermined time, the instructiondecoder asserts the control signal (the class code remaining assertedand select signals remaining asserted) to enable the device index to bestored in the NFA register specified by the class code. As discussed inreference to FIG. 72, if the device flag indicates that the device indexrepresents a valid not-full address, the device index is stored in theNFA register.

FIG. 74 illustrates an exemplary operation of the instruction decoder5904 of FIG. 59 in response to an instruction to compare a comparandwith the contents of a class-based partition of the CAM array (i.e., aCOMPARE@CLASS instruction). In block 7401, the instruction decoderinitiates execution of the compare operation. At block 7403, theinstruction decoder issues the select and class code signals to theaddress circuit (e.g., element 5906 of FIG. 59) to select the HPMregister for the specified class in preparation for a load operation.Note that the select and class code signals may be issued to the addresscircuit in parallel with execution of the compare operation in block7401 or at a later time. In either case, a predetermined time afterinitiation of the compare operation, the instruction decoder asserts thecontrol signal to enable the device index to be stored in the HPMregister specified by the class code. As discussed in reference to FIG.72, if the device flag indicates that the device index represents avalid match address, the device index is stored in the HPM register.

FIG. 75 illustrates an exemplary operation of the instruction decoder5904 of FIG. 59 in response to an instruction to read a CAM word fromthe highest priority match address of a class-based partition of the CAMarray (i.e., a READ@HPM@CLASS instruction). In block 7501, theinstruction decoder issues the appropriate select and class code signalsto the address circuit (e.g., element 5906 of FIG. 59) to select the HPMregister for the specified class code to source the address for a readaccess to the CAM array. A first predetermined time later, in block7503, the instruction decoder signals a read circuit within the CAMdevice (not shown in FIG. 59) to sense data output from the CAM arraylocation selected by the address circuit.

FIG. 76 depicts an alternative block select circuit 7602 which may beused in the CAM device of FIG. 59. The block select circuit includes aplurality of sets of CAM cells 7601(0)-7601(N-1) that are used to storeblock class values and to compare the block class values with anincoming class code 5907. In one embodiment, each set of CAM cells7601(0)-7601(N-1) is coupled to a word line 7605 and also to respectivesets of bit lines (not shown). Accordingly, when the word line 7605 isasserted, respective block class values are stored in the sets of CAMcells. In an alternative embodiment, each set of CAM cells 7601(0)-7601(N) may be coupled to a respective, dedicated word line and thereforemay be individually addressed to store a block class value for thecorresponding CAM block.

Still referring to FIG. 76, each set of CAM cells 7601(0)-7601(N-1) iscoupled to a respective match line which is used to provide the blockselect signal 5905(N-1)-5905(0) to the corresponding CAM block. Thus,when an incoming class code 5907 is determined to match the contents ofa given set of CAM cells 7601(0)-7601(N-1), a block select signal5905(0)-5905(N-1) will be asserted on the corresponding match line. Bythis arrangement, the store and compare function of the CAM cellsfulfills the functions of the block configuration registers 6002 and thecomparator circuits 6006 of the block select circuit depicted in FIG.60.

In one embodiment each CAM cell in the sets of CAM cells7601(0)-7601(N-1) is a ternary CAM cell capable of storing either alogical ‘1,’ a logical ‘0,’ or a mask state (i.e., don't care state).Accordingly, by setting a selected bit (or bits) of a block class valueto the masked state, the block class value may be determined to matchmore than one class code. Referring to FIG. 77, for example, if twoclasses of data, class A and class B, are stored in a CAM block 5409,then the bit (or bits) used to distinguish between the two class codesmay be masked so that the block 5409 is selected to participate in acompare operation directed to either class. In the example shown, theclass code for class A is ‘001’ and the class code for class B is ‘000.’Accordingly, by setting the least significant bit in the set of CAMcells 7601 that corresponds block 5409 to the mask state, the storedblock class value will be determined to match both the class A and classB class codes. One or more tag bits may be set within each CAM wordstored in the block 5409 to designate the CAM word as belonging toeither the class A or class B storage partition (note that while theclass A and class B storage areas are depicted as distinct in FIG. 77,the CAM words within each storage class may be interspersed with oneanother). For example, if the most significant bit of each CAM word isused as a tag bit and set to ‘1’ for class A and set to ‘0’ for class B,then the corresponding most significant bit of an incoming comparandvalue will effectively select the storage class to be searched. That is,if the most significant bit of the incoming comparand is a ‘1,’ thennone of the class B entries will match the comparand, effectivelyexcluding class B from the search. Conversely, if the most significantbit of the incoming comparand is a ‘0,’ then none of the class A entrieswill match the comparand, effectively excluding class A from the search.Although shown in the leftmost bit position in FIG. 77, the tag bit(s)may be located in any bit position within a row or row segment.

Note that, instead of (or in addition to) using ternary CAM cells withinthe block select circuit 7602, a set of class code mask values7603(N-1)-7603(0) may be applied to allow each (or any one) of thestored block class value to match multiple class codes. The class codemask values may be provided together with the class code 5907 or in aseparate transmission. Also, instead of multiple class code mask values7603(N-1)-7603(0), a single class code mask value may alternatively beapplied to mask the class code 5907 before the class code is comparedwith the block class code values stored in the sets of CAM cells7601(N-1)-7601(0).

In the foregoing specification the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made theretowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than restrictive sense.

1. A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising: a plurality ofCAM blocks each having an array of CAM cells to store data words havinga width determined according to a configuration value; and a blockselect circuit having an input to receive a class code and circuitry tooutput a plurality of select signals to the plurality of CAM blocks,each select signal to selectively disable a respective one of theplurality of CAM blocks from participating in a compare operationaccording to the class code.
 2. The CAM device of claim 1 wherein thecircuitry to output a plurality of select signals to the plurality ofCAM blocks includes a plurality of compare circuits, each comparecircuit being adapted to compare the class code to a respective storedcode that corresponds to one of the plurality of CAM blocks and tooutput a respective one of the plurality of select signals in either afirst state or a second state according to whether the class codematches the stored code.
 3. The CAM device of claim 2 wherein each ofthe plurality of CAM blocks for which the corresponding select signal isin a first state is disabled from participating in the compareoperation.
 4. The CAM device of claim 2 wherein the stored code isindicative of the configuration value.
 5. The CAM device of claim 2wherein each respective stored code is indicative of a class of data. 6.The CAM device of claim 2 wherein the stored code is stored in a memorywithin the block select circuit.
 7. The CAM device of claim 6 whereinthe memory is a block configuration register.
 8. The CAM device of claim2 further comprising a device configuration register to store the storedcode.
 9. The CAM device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of CAM blockscomprise binary CAM cells.
 10. The CAM device of claim 1 wherein theplurality of CAM blocks comprise ternary CAM cells.
 11. The CAM deviceof claim 1 further comprising a plurality of block match circuits, eachblock match circuit being coupled to a respective CAM block of theplurality of CAM blocks via a plurality of match signal lines and beingadapted to generate a block match signal if the CAM block is notdisabled from participating in the compare operation and if a matchsignal is asserted on at least one of the match signal lines during thecompare operation.
 12. The CAM device of claim 1 further comprising aplurality of block multiple match circuits, each block multiple matchcircuit being coupled to a respective CAM block of the plurality of CAMblocks via a plurality of match signal lines and being adapted togenerate a block match signal if the CAM block is not disabled fromparticipating in the compare operation and if a match signal is assertedon at least two of the match signal lines during the compare operation.13. The CAM device of claim 1 wherein the block select circuit isadapted to selectively disable the one of the plurality of CAM blocksfrom participating in the compare operation by preventing a comparandvalue from being input to the one of the plurality of CAM blocks. 14.The CAM device of claim 13 wherein the block select circuit includescircuitry to prevent the comparand value from being input to the one ofthe plurality of CAM blocks by setting a plurality of bits within thecomparand value to a reset state.
 15. The CAM device of claim 1 furthercomprising a plurality of block flag circuits, each block flag circuitbeing coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of CAM blocks andbeing adapted to assert a match flag signal if any of a plurality ofdata words stored within the corresponding CAM block matches a comparandvalue, and wherein the block select circuit is adapted to selectivelydisable the one of the plurality of CAM blocks from participating in thecompare operation by preventing the corresponding block flag circuitfrom asserting the match flag signal.
 16. The CAM device of claim 1wherein the circuitry to output a plurality of select signals to theplurality of CAM blocks comprises a plurality of sets of CAM cells, eachset of CAM cells including memory elements to store a class value thatcorresponds to one of the plurality of CAM blocks and compare circuitryto compare the stored class value to the class code and to output arespective one of the plurality of select signals in either a firststate or a second state according to whether the class code matches thestored class value.
 17. The CAM device of claim 16 wherein each CAM cellin the plurality of sets of CAM cells is a ternary CAM cell capable ofstoring a mask state to enable the stored class value to match more thanone class code.
 18. The CAM device of claim 1 further comprising apriority encoder circuit to generate an index indicative of a storagelocation within one of the plurality of CAM blocks not disabled fromparticipating in the compare operation.
 19. A method of operation withina content addressable memory (CAM) device: receiving a class code;comparing the class code to each of a plurality of block configurationvalues, each block configuration value indicating a width and depthconfiguration of a corresponding one of a plurality of storage blockswithin the CAM device; and disabling each of the plurality of storageblocks for which the corresponding configuration value does not matchthe class code from participating in a compare operation.
 20. The methodof claim 19 further comprising storing the plurality of blockconfiguration values within the CAM device.
 21. The method of claim 20further comprising storing the plurality of block configuration valueswithin a configuration register of the CAM device.
 22. The method ofclaim 20 further comprising storing the same block configuration valuewithin the CAM device for more than one of the plurality of storageblocks.
 23. The method of claim 19 wherein disabling each of theplurality of storage blocks for which the corresponding configurationvalue does not match the class code from participating in a compareoperation comprises generating a plurality of select signals, eachselect signal being coupled to a respective one of the plurality ofstorage blocks, and each select signal being set to a first state todisable the respective one of the plurality of storage blocks fromparticipating in the compare operation if the correspondingconfiguration value does not match the class code.
 24. A method ofcontrolling a content addressable memory (CAM) device, the methodcomprising: assigning respective classification values to a plurality ofstorage blocks within the CAM device; and outputting a compareinstruction to the CAM device, the compare instruction including a classcode to be compared with the classification values to select a subset ofthe plurality of storage blocks to participate in a compare operation.25. The method of claim 24 wherein assigning respective classificationvalues to the plurality of storage blocks comprises outputting aninstruction to the CAM device to store the classification values withinat least one storage register within the CAM device.
 26. The method ofclaim 24 wherein assigning respective classification values to theplurality of storage blocks comprises storing, for each of the storageblocks, a value indicative of the size of a data word to be stored inthe storage block.
 27. The method of claim 24 wherein assigningrespective classification values to the plurality of storage blockscomprises storing, for each of the storage blocks, a value indicative ofa width and depth configuration of the storage block.
 28. The method ofclaim 27 wherein the class code included with the compare instructionspecifies a particular width and depth configuration.
 29. The method ofclaim 24 wherein the class code is included within an operation code ofthe compare instruction.
 30. The method of claim 24 wherein the classcode forms at least a portion of an operand associated with the compareinstruction.
 31. A method of controlling a content addressable memory(CAM) device, the method comprising: assigning respective classificationvalues to a plurality of storage blocks within the CAM device;outputting a class code to the CAM device; and outputting a compareinstruction to the CAM device, the compare instruction indicating that acomparand is to be compared with data words stored within each of theplurality of storage blocks for which the assigned classification valuematches the class code.
 32. The method of claim 31 wherein assigningrespective classification values to the plurality of storage blockscomprises storing, for each of the storage blocks, a value indicative ofa width and depth configuration of the storage block.
 33. The method ofclaim 32 wherein outputting a class code comprises outputting a classcode that specifies a particular width and depth configuration.
 34. Acontent addressable memory (CAM) device comprising: a plurality of CAMblocks each having an array of CAM cells; and an address circuit coupledto the plurality of CAM blocks and including a plurality of storageelements to store respective addresses, each of the plurality of storageelements corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of class-basedstorage partitions within the CAM device, each class-based storagepartition including at least one of the plurality of CAM blocks, theaddress circuit including selection circuitry to select, according to aclass code value, one of the plurality of storage elements to supply anaddress to access the corresponding class-based storage partition. 35.The CAM device of claim 34 wherein the CAM device includes circuitry tostore a plurality of configuration values, each configuration valuecorresponding to a respective CAM block of the plurality of CAM blocksand indicating one of the class-based storage partitions that includesthe CAM block.
 36. The CAM device of claim 35 wherein each configurationvalue is indicative of a width and depth configuration of thecorresponding CAM block, and wherein each set of one or more CAM blocksthat have the same width and depth configuration form a respective oneof the class-based storage partitions.
 37. The CAM device of claim 34wherein each of the plurality of storage elements is adapted to indicatea storage location within the corresponding class-based storagepartition that contains a data word which, at least in part, matched acomparand in a compare operation.
 38. The CAM device of claim 34 furthercomprising: a select circuit to select, according to a class code, oneof the class-based storage partitions to participate in a compareoperation; a priority encoder to generate an index indicative of astorage location within the selected one of the class-based storagepartitions that contains a data word which is determined, in thecompare-operation, to match a comparand; and a load control circuit toload the index into one storage element of the plurality of storageelements that corresponds to the selected one of the class-based storagepartitions.
 39. The CAM device of claim 38 further comprising a flagcircuit to assert a flag signal if the comparand is determined to matcha data word stored within the selected one of the class-based storagepartitions, the load control circuit being adapted to load the indexinto the one storage element if the flag signal is asserted by the flagcircuit.
 40. The CAM device of claim 34 wherein each of the plurality ofstorage elements is adapted to store an address of a storage locationwithin the corresponding class-based storage partition that is availableto be loaded with a data word in a write access to the class-basedstorage partition.
 41. The CAM device of claim 40 further comprising aninstruction decoder to select one of the plurality of storage elementswithin the address circuit to output the address stored therein toaccess the corresponding class-based storage partition in a writeoperation.
 42. The CAM device of claim 41 wherein the instructiondecoder is adapted to select the one of the plurality of storageelements within the address circuit according to a class code receivedfrom a host device.
 43. The CAM device of claim 41 further comprising: apriority encoder to generate an index indicative of a storage locationwithin the class-based storage partition that is determined not containa valid data word; and a load control circuit to load the index into theselected one o f the plurality of storage elements.
 44. The CAM deviceof claim 43 further comprising a flag circuit to assert a flag signal ifa storage location within the class-based storage partition isdetermined not to contain a valid data word, the load control circuitbeing adapted to load the index into the selected one of the pluralityof storage elements if the flag signal is asserted by the flag circuit.45. A method of operation within a content addressable memory (CAM)device, the method comprising: receiving an instruction to store a dataword in the CAM device, the instruction including a class code thatidentifies one of a plurality of storage partitions within the CAMdevice; selecting, according to the class code, one of a plurality ofaddress storage elements to output an address; and storing the data wordwithin the CAM device at the address output by the one of the pluralityof address storage elements.
 46. The method of claim 45 whereinreceiving the instruction to store a data word comprises receiving anoperation code that includes the class code.
 47. The method of claim 45wherein receiving the instruction to store a data word comprisesreceiving an operand that includes the class code.
 48. The method ofclaim 45 wherein storing the data word within the CAM device at theaddress output by the one of the plurality of address storage elementscomprises storing the data word within the one of the plurality ofstorage partitions.
 49. The method of claim 48 further comprising:identifying a storage location within the one of the plurality ofstorage partitions that does not contain a valid data value; and loadingan address of the storage location into the one of the plurality ofaddress storage elements.
 50. The method of claim 45 further comprisingloading a new address into the one of the plurality of address storageelements.
 51. The method of claim 50 wherein loading a new address intothe one of the plurality of address storage elements comprises loadingthe one of the plurality of address storage elements with a next freeaddress indicative of a storage location within the one of the pluralityof storage partitions.
 52. A method of operation within a contentaddressable memory (CAM) device, the method comprising: receiving aninstruction to perform a comparison operation within the CAM device, theinstruction including a class code that identifies one of a plurality ofstorage partitions within the CAM device; performing the comparisonoperation, including generating an address of a storage location withinthe one of the plurality of storage partitions that contains a data wordthat matches a comparand; selecting one of a plurality of match addressstorage elements according to the class code; and loading the addressinto the one of a plurality of match address storage elements.
 53. Themethod of claim 52 wherein receiving the instruction to perform acomparison operation comprises receiving an operation code that includesthe class code.
 54. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving theinstruction to perform a comparison operation comprises receiving anoperand that includes the class code.
 55. The method of claim 52 whereinreceiving an instruction to perform a comparison operation comprisesreceiving an operation code at a first time and receiving the class codeat a second time, the operation code indicating a comparison operation.56. The method of claim 52 wherein generating an address of a storagelocation comprises generating a highest priority match address.
 57. Themethod of claim 52 further comprising: receiving an instruction to reada data word stored within the CAM device, the instruction including aclass code that identifies the one of a plurality of storage partitions;and selecting, according to the class code, the one of a plurality ofmatch address storage elements to output an address; reading the dataword from a storage location within the one of the plurality of storagepartitions at the address output by the one of the plurality of matchaddress storage elements.
 58. A method of operation within a CAM device,the method comprising: receiving an instruction to read a data wordstored within the CAM device, the instruction including a class codethat uniquely identifies one of a plurality of storage partitions;selecting, according to the class code, one of a plurality of addressstorage elements to output an address; and reading the data word from astorage location within the one of the plurality of storage partitionsat the address output by the one of the plurality of address storageelements.
 59. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving the instructionto read a data word comprises receiving an operation code that includesthe class code.
 60. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving theinstruction to read a data word comprises receiving an operand thatincludes the class code.
 61. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving aninstruction to read a data word comprises receiving an operation code ata first time and receiving the class code at a second time, theoperation code indicating a data read operation.
 62. A method ofoperation within a CAM device, the method comprising: selecting a firststorage partition within the CAM device according to a first class code;and identifying a free storage location within the first storagepartition.
 63. The method of claim 62 further comprising: selecting asecond storage partition within the CAM device according to a secondclass code; and identifying a free storage location within the secondstorage partition.
 64. The method of claim 63 wherein identifying a freestorage location within the first storage partition comprisesidentifying the free storage location according to a plurality ofvalidity signals, each validity signal indicating whether acorresponding storage location within the first storage partition has avalid data value stored therein.
 65. The method of claim 62 furthercomprising generating an index indicative of an address of the freestorage location.
 66. The method of claim 62 wherein identifying a freestorage location comprises identifying the free storage location withinthe first storage partition if the first storage partition is not full,the method further comprising asserting a full flag signal to indicatethat the first storage partition is full if the first storage partitionis full.
 67. A method of operation within a CAM device, the methodcomprising: selecting a first storage partition within the CAM deviceaccording to a class code; and identifying, within the first storagepartition, a storage location having a data value stored therein that,at least in part, matches a first comparand value.
 68. The method ofclaim 67 further comprising: selecting a second storage partition withinthe CAM device according to a second class code; and identifying, withinthe second storage partition, a second storage location having a datavalue stored therein that, at least in part, matches a second comparandvalue.
 69. The method of claim 67 wherein identifying the first storagelocation comprises identifying the first storage location according to aplurality of match signals, each match signal indicating whether acorresponding storage location within the first storage partitioncontains a data value that, at least in part, matches the firstcomparand value.
 70. The method of claim 67 further comprisinggenerating an index indicative of an address of the first storagelocation.
 71. The method of claim 67 wherein identifying a first storagelocation within the first storage partition comprises asserting a matchflag signal to indicate that a storage location containing a data valuethat, at least in part, matches the first comparand value has beenidentified within the first storage partition.
 72. The method of claim67 further comprising: identifying, within the first storage partition,a second storage location having a data value stored therein that, atleast in part, matches the first comparand value; and asserting amultiple match flag signal to indicate that more than one storagelocation containing a data value that, at least in part, matches thefirst comparand value has been identified within the first storagepartition.
 73. A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising: afirst CAM block configurable into a first width and depth configuration;and a second CAM block configurable into a second width and depthconfiguration.
 74. The CAM device of claim 73 further comprising a blockselect circuit having an input to receive a class code and circuitry tooutput first and second select signals, each of the first and secondselect signals to selectively disable the first and second CAM blocksfrom participating in a compare operation according to the width anddepth configurations of the first and second CAM blocks.
 75. The CAMdevice of claim 74 wherein each of the first and second select signalsis adapted to disable the one of the first and second CAM blocks fromparticipating in the compare operation by preventing a comparand valuefrom being input to the one of the first and second CAM blocks if theclass code does not match a stored configuration value.
 76. The CAMdevice of claim 74 wherein each of the first and second select signalsis adapted to disable the one of the first and second CAM blocks fromparticipating in the compare operation by preventing assertion of amatch signal that corresponds to the one of the first and second CAMblocks if the class code does not match a stored configuration value.77. The CAM device of claim 73 wherein the plurality of CAM blockscomprise ternary CAM cells.
 78. A content addressable memory (CAM)device comprising: a plurality of storage means for storing data words,each storage means having a storage width determined according to aconfiguration value; and select means for enabling, according to a classcode, selected ones of the plurality of the storage means to participatein a compare operation.
 79. The CAM device of claim 78 wherein theselect means comprises: compare means for comparing the class code to aplurality of stored class values that correspond, respectively, to theplurality of storage means; and enable means for enabling each storagemeans for which the corresponding stored class value matches the classcode to participate in the compare operation.
 80. The CAM device ofclaim 79 wherein the enable means comprises comparand disable means forsetting a comparand value to a predetermined state to prevent a storagemeans for which the corresponding stored class value does not match theclass code from participating in the compare operation.
 81. The CAMdevice of claim 79 wherein the enable means comprises match disablemeans to prevent assertion of a match signal that corresponds to astorage means for which the corresponding stored class value does notmatch the class code.
 82. The CAM device of claim 78 wherein each of theplurality of storage means comprises a plurality of ternary CAM cells.